22/08/2026
BRAKING NEWS 22-08-2026
Dear fellow collectors,
Here is another presentation of a new type of core found in an Iron Cross, number 38.
What makes this discovery particularly interesting is that I am able to present two examples of the same cross. I found two identical crosses, but there is a clear difference in the way the cores are defined.
On one cross, the core is very weakly struck, while the core of the second example is much better and more strongly struck. I find this direct comparison particularly interesting, because it shows that even otherwise identical crosses can display differences in manufacturing quality.
The German book Die Deschler-Fotos by Wilfried Beier and Jürg Nimmergut contains a great deal of information about the production of Iron Crosses. Among other things, it is mentioned that the cores were not struck only once, but twice. The second striking process was intended to achieve a better and clearer definition of the details.
This leads me to an interesting theory. I suspect that the first core shown here may have been struck only once, and that for some reason the second striking process was omitted. This could perhaps explain why the definition of the core is considerably weaker on this example than on the second cross.
Of course, this is only my personal theory and by no means a proven explanation. That is precisely what makes the direct comparison of these two crosses so interesting to me.
Two seemingly identical crosses can sometimes provide fascinating insights into the manufacturing process and the differences that could occur during production.
I hope you enjoy this comparison. I would of course be very interested to hear your thoughts and opinions.
