WWIIHotFinds.com

The Collectibles Food Chain

Friday, May 17, 2013

The collecting "food chain" typically follows this pattern:

Garage sales, estate sales

Items may be under-priced, attribution may be possible. Time intensive, primarily for

full time dealers willing to spend the time.

Flea markets

Where many full time dealers flog what they don't list online. Unless you have unlimited free time,

more effective to pay these dealers a reasonable profit than to beat the bushes per 1. above.

Online sales

Including auctions and fixed price sales, relatively few bargain prices are offset by virtually unlimited

inventory, new pieces constantly being added. Ability to tap into international sources.

Collector shows

Expect to pay top dollar with few exceptions. Pieces not infrequently tinkered with to boost

prices. Travel expenses, meals and lodging, may be factors. Few if any bargains.

Generally prices naturally increase from step 1. through step 4, as pieces work their way up the food chain. The trick

is to define the venue(s) which best serve one's collecting needs and concentrate on those areas.

"If you collect anything long enough, sooner or later you'll become a seller/dealer too."

- taken from Tim Sloat with many thanks!

 

World War II Legion Of Merit Medal

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Hello again! I am very happy to share a few medals from my personal collection and some that are currently for sale on my ebay store. I hope you enjoy my comparison of the 1942-1944 Legion of Merit Medal.

 

AVERAGE PRICE:
(From My Experiences)

The price varies by the condition, the recipient named on the medal or number on the brooch.

$100-$500

Low end being a 1944 LOM - High end being a numbered or named 1942 LOM

INFORMATION:

The medal was announced in War Department Bulletin No. 40, dated August 5, 1942. Executive Order 9260, dated October 29, 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, established the rules for the Legion of Merit and required the President's approval for the award. However, in 1943, at the request of General George C. Marshall, approval authority for U.S. personnel was delegated to the War Department.
The reverse of the medal has the motto taken from the Great Seal of the United States, "ANNUIT COEPTIS" ("He [God] Has Favored Our Undertakings") and the date "MDCCLXXXII" (1782) which is the date of America's first decoration, the Badge of Military Merit, now known as the Purple Heart. The ribbon design also follows the pattern of the Purple Heart ribbon.

 

MARKINGS: 1942 LEGIONNAIRE

Thick enamel, Gold Gilt Sterling Silver full wrapped brooch numbered, welded medal loop, UV negative ribbon drape. Here is a 1942 Legion of Merit Numbered 14035 to GENERAL JAMES FRANCIS COLLINS.

 

MARKINGS: 1943 LEGIONNAIRE

Thick enamel, Gold Gilt Sterling Silver full wrapped brooch un-numbered, welded medal loop, UV negative ribbon drape.

 

MARKINGS: 1944 LEGIONNAIRE

Thin enamel, slotted sewn brooch, un-numbered, welded medal loop, UV negative ribbon drape.

 

FURTHER READING:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Merit

CLINTON FOSTER
www.MEDALMULISHA.com

1932 Purple Hearts

Thursday, April 25, 2013

I am very happy to share a few medals from my personal collection! I hope you enjoy my comparison of the 1932 Army & Navy/USMC Purple Heart Medals.

AVERAGE PRICE:
(In my experiences) Prices vary by condition and the recipient named on the medal.

ARMY PH boxed- $400-$700
NAVY/USMC PH boxed- $400-$1,200
ARMY PH Un-boxed-$200-$450
NAVY/USMC PH Un-boxed-$250-$550

MARKINGS: ARMY 1932 PURPLE HEART:

Type 1a (1932-1940): bronze gilt medal, enamel heart, split wrap brooch,  1 to 5 digits numbered on rim.  Awarded to the recipient by application only, therefore all Army Type I Hearts will be engraved on the reverse with the recipient's name.
-(Purplehearts.net)

Here is a World War 1 awarded 1932 Army Purple Heart Medal #48550 to Wounded Army soldier "LAWRENCE L. BENEDICT".

Casualty Lists from the Philidelphia Inquirer, Sat, Oct. 19, 1918

Returned to Duty, Previously Reported Missing In Action:
"LAWRENCE L. BENEDICT".

MARKINGS: NAVY/USMC 1932 PURPLE HEART:

Type I (1943-1945): sterling silver gilt, plastic heart, split wrap brooch, unnumbered.  Initial production run of 135,000 ordered by the Navy's Bureau of Personnel from the US mint.
-(Purplehearts.net)

Here is a World War 2 Posthumously awarded 1932 Navy/USMC Purple Heart Medal to USMC Private "JOHN W. LAYTON"

John Wesley Layton, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division KIA on Iwo Jima Feb. 20, 1945.

 

FURTHER READING:
Purplehearts.net

CLINTON FOSTER
www.MEDALMULISHA.com
VERIFIED DEALER: UMCC#US103