Some order decorations are quite common. For instance, in the Kingdom of Prussia, one can quickly notice that the Crown Order was awarded in vast quantities. Since orders were often given for long service, certain officials could not avoid being awarded a particular type and class of order. The Order of the Crown, in particular, appears to have been frequently used for such purposes. Collectors of Imperial German orders will typically find several examples of this decoration in their collections, whether on a medal bar or as individual pieces.
At first glance, one might think, "Not a very interesting piece." However, a deeper examination reveals variations in the decoration that are far from common. For instance, swords were awarded sparingly, and there were special decorations like the Red Cross awards for 1870/71, cross attachments for members of the Order of St. John, and decorations for long service or jubilees.
Certainly rare are the decorations from the first model, awarded with a small crown, until around 1864.
So, what is the difference between the first and second models, one might ask, to ensure the acquisition of the correct piece for a collection? The answer is simple: the small crown. But is it really that simple? Not entirely. Other details can easily be overlooked. The cross body follows the "handwriting" of the jeweler who crafted the decoration. For example, a piece made by Wagner before 1864 looks exactly like a Wagner-made piece from after 1864, featuring a hollow body and a scratch mark "W" on the lower arm of the cross. The key difference is the medallion. The small crown of the first model is distinctly different from the crown on the second model. The first model's crown is lower in relief and less three-dimensional. Additionally, the background of the medallion in the first model is finely pebbled, while in the second model, it is more finely struck.
left 1st model / right 2nd model
Moreover, the medallion's center plate, which displays the crown, is smaller in the first model compared to the second. Another significant difference is that the wreath around the medallion in the first model is narrower and enameled in a dark blue, while the second model's wreath is broader.
In a previous article on electroplating, I shared details about a modern fake I encountered several years ago—an imitation 2nd Class badge of the first model of the Prussian Order of the Crown. I will focus on a specific detail that alerted me to the fact that I had bought a fake. When examining the medallions shown below, it becomes apparent that the center is not as finely struck as it should be. The wreath around the medallion also appears to be from the second model, as it is smaller and light blue rather than dark blue.
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At first, I considered the possibility that this piece had been restored sometime between 1900 and 1864, with a contemporary medallion circle (from the second model) being used. However, the poor quality of the center plate raised doubts. I decided to take the piece apart. Fortunately, this was easy to do because orders were assembled using a resin that melts at a relatively low temperature.
Upon disassembling the piece, the answer became clear. The item was completely reassembled, with a cross body and center plates that, while nicely made, were not of the same quality as the original. These plates didn’t fit properly into the larger medallion ring. The close-up image reveals a gap between the medallion plates. On original crosses, the plates were fixed into the order by bending the center rim inward and attaching it from the back. This design allowed the jeweler to fit the center plate like a spring ring, using less material. The modern replica, however, did not need to be as careful, since modern materials are cheaper than those used in the 19th century, when material was often more valuable than labor.
It goes without saying that no jeweler of the time would have made such a sloppy piece, especially one that had to pass inspection by the Orders Chancellery and the jeweler's master.
To reiterate, it’s crucial to understand how materials were worked and crafted when making these remarkable order decorations we collect today.
