WELCOME TO THE '5th AUG-22nd NOV 1914' CLASP TUTORIAL PAGE
(Please 'click' on all pictures for enlargements)
This is one of our favourite and regular "problem areas".
Because, at the time of writing, one can now pay up to £50 for a genuine clasp, it's essential to be sure that a potential purchase is indeed the genuine article.
We feel this page will greatly assist you in that determination.
Also,
when considering the asking price for a Mons Star & Bar Trio or Group, where once the presence or absence of a genuine Aug-Nov clasp was not of great concern, (we used to give them away in the 1970's) it's now an important element of 'pricing up' or assessing the amount to be paid.
The two "photo frames" below show:
(1) Two genuine clasps and
(2) Six different 'fake' clasps.
And, let's not be vague or squeamish about this point.
There is ONLY ONE TYPE
of original "Royal Mint" / "Medal Office" issued clasp that is:
"right and genuine ".
They were struck from ONE UNIQUE set of die types (above) which have ONE SET of totally individual characteristics..End !
There exist many varieties of "contemporary" clasps like some of the examples illustrated in photoframe (2) which were generally made in the immediate post-war period. (these including "slider" clasps which fit over the ribbon, rather than being pierced to facilitate being sewn onto it,)
..........but these and all later clasps are ALL totally unofficial.
NEXT.... We have some enlarged drawings of some correct and incorrect positional features AND easily checkable pointers so YOU can become expert in telling Right from Wrong.
When professional die sinkers work out the spacings for the legends (wordings) and to achieve the visually appealing 'balance' on coins, medals and clasps, they almost always give each individual element, letter and number on any particular production its own vertical spaced position, where as a "faker" just tries to make a basic copy of something, and by just trying to get all the letters etc in a given space, he invariaby gets all the very fine and subtle points and positions of the original design all wrong.
On the Genuine Clasps, the "DOT" between the foot of the "V" and the "1" is closer to the "V" and just about occupies its own vertical space.
On the Fake Clasps, the "DOT" is almost exactly half way between the "V" and the "1" and is intercepted by a vertical line.
On the Genuine Clasps, the "Dot" between the "G" and the "Hyphen" occupies its own space.
( *'This is perhaps THE best visual check of all as it's a 100% constant feature on all genuine clasps )
On the Fake Clasps the "Dot" between the "G" and the "Hyphen" sits partially under the hyphen. This is wrong !!
(*This incorrect vertical alignment sticks out like a sore thumb ! )
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We hope hope the above info and pictures will save you making a costly mistake....But, if you are still not sure about any particular clasp, just send us a picture and we will tell you right away if it's Good or Bad !
Coming Soon .....
The Silver Rosette Emblem.