Newp - Red Baron medal

Blackhawk

This 37mm silver medal by Karl Goetz commemorates Baron Manfred von Richthoffen (the Red Baron), WWI flying ace of Germany. There is a die crack from the rim to the eagle at about 7:30 on the reverse. It was a recent Ebay purchase.

JCMhouston

Where's Snoopy? Just kidding, very nice medal, I've started thinking about adding a few myself, some excellent artistry in some of these.

cacheman

Yeah, this is what I refer to as the Schnapps variety... Karl was known to screw up on occasion (does the Lusitania medal ring a bell?) when he was in a hurry to get something done. This variety has the wrong number of 'kills' at 89 when it should be 80. He also got the date of Richthofen's death wrong. He has it as 12 April 1918 on this variety when in fact the death date is 21 April 1918. Both of the K-288's in my collection are this variety (92mm bronze and 36mm silver).

The later corrected medal was struck in 36mm gold, silver, and bronze. I'm pretty sure I've seen this in a 60mm cast silver too.

The silver 36mm I have has the same die crack.

lordmarcovan

Nice one. I'm relieved to not see Snoopy on top of his dog house.

(Edit: oh, I see JCMH beat me to the lame joke. What's worse than a lame joke? Being the SECOND one to post it, that's what.)



Oh, and speaking of medals relating to Germans and aviation:





Check out the misshapen skull and pointy nose on Baron von Huenefeld!