Portuguese War Cross Collection

[VonRiver]

Hi to all.,

I share the classic Portuguese War Cross medal 2nd Class 1949 model.
You can see the surface treatment given to the medal body to show 2nd class (gold).



Other classic Portuguese War Cross medal 2nd Class 1949 model.
The surface treatment given to the medal it's a diferent type but it's better than the other.



Best Regards.,

Von River

[VonRiver]

About the materials of the Portuguese War Cross Medal (Medalha da Cruz de Guerra Portuguesa):

The first Portuguese War Crosses from de 1917 model were made of bronze with the templar cross miniature in gold finish on the suspension ribbon for the 1st and 2nd Class. The templar cross miniature from the 1st classe is with two laurel verges, fruity and tied with a bow all in gold finish. The 3rd class with a silver finish miniature and the 4th class with a miniature in bronze. As you can see in the following samples:



The 1946 regulation established that the would be struck in different metals consuant the classes. The 1st and 2nd classes would be in Gold finish. The 3rd class cross would be Silver finish with the templar cross miniature in silver, and the 4th class would be in bronze with a minuture in bronze too on the suspension ribbon. You can see in the following sample:

(some 3rd Class War Crosses was made in solid silver)



The metal of the Portuguese War Cross medal 1971 model is in bronze again like the 1917 model for all the classes with the distinction of classes with the templar crosses on the ribbon. You can see it in the following sample and you can see too the modern model in bronze with superficial treatment to imitate the patina of the initial 1917 war cross model.

[VonRiver]

Military medal group bar from an overseas (colonial) war veteran from the “Portuguese Marines” (Fuzileiros Navais Portugueses):

Can be seen the following, from left to right.

- Portuguese War Cross Medal 1st class, 1949 model;
- Distinguished Service Medal in silver with golden palm (win in battle);
- Military Merit Medal 3rd class;
- Exemplary Behavior Medal in copper, 1949 model (6 years exemplary service);
- Campaign Service Medal in Overseas War, 1949 model, Clasp Angola 1965-67 campaign (to recognize wartime service).

[VonRiver]

The Portuguese War Cross Medal 1949 model, that can be seen in the group of medals presented previously, is in the 1st class and a little hard to find.



The miniature on the ribbon represented with a golden templar cross with two laurel verges, fruity and tied with a bow it's rare to find in the Portuguese War Cross Medals from the 1949 model. I share with you all more photos of the miniature on the ribbon.

[VonRiver]

Hi.,

Observing all the Portuguese War Crosses presented here in this Thread regardless of the model or class, we can verify that the Ribbons have differences in the presented colors. The ribbon colors observed were red-white, red-silver, red-blue, etc. beyond the official red-green colors.

Best Regards.,

Von River

[VonRiver]

Hi to all.,

IMO the rarest Portuguese War Cross Medal to find... so far.
This type of miniature on the ribbon it's very rare to find in the Portuguese War Cross Medals from the 1949 model.



Best Regards.,

Von River

[VonRiver]

Hi to All.,

I share my new Portuguese War Cross medal 3rd Class 1949 model.









Best Regards.,

Von River

[VonRiver]

Hi.,

I Share with you all my new Portuguese War Cross Medal 1st class from the 1949 model.



This model are the classic type graced to the recipients in the beginning years of the Portuguese overseas (colonial) war.
The Portuguese War Cross 1949 model received notoriety during the Portuguese Overseas (colonial) War between 1961 until 1970.



This type of miniature on the ribbon it's very rare to find in the Portuguese War Cross Medals from the 1949 model.



One of the characteristics of the 1949 model medals are the surface treatment given the medal to show the type of class, in gold, silver or bronze. In this case it's in gold.





Best Regards.,

Von River

[VonRiver]

All the Portuguese War Cross medals, including the 1949 model, are awarded in four classes.

The class are represented by the small Templar crosses on the ribbons of the medals.

Award in 1st Class represented with a Gold Templar cross with two laurel verges, fruity and tied with a bow, 2nd Class represented with a Templar cross in Gold, 3rd Class represented with a Templar cross in Silver and 4th Class represented by a Templar cross in Bronze.



As I said, one of the characteristics of the 1949 model medals are the surface treatment given the medal body to show the type of class. You can see the gold treatment for 1st and 2nd class, silver to 3rd class and bronze treatment for 4th class.



This model are the classic type graced to the recipients in the beginning years of the Portuguese overseas (colonial) war.

Best Regards.,

Von River

[VonRiver]

The 1971 model are the classic type graced to the recipients in the final years of the Portuguese overseas (colonial) war.

The Portuguese War Cross medal 1971 model it is awarded in four classes like the others.



The medal color is given by surface original patina from the bronze material. Not like the 1949 model medals, that a surface treatment are given to the medal body to show the type of class.



Best Regards.,

Von River