Not sure about this 1813 EK. I

[DarthGanon]

I recently found this 1813 Iron Cross 1st Class, but I'm very suspicious of it.

The reasons I feel pretty skeptical are: the overall good condition considering its age, the 2 loops on the back (I've only ever seen 4 or 8 loop versions), and the corners of the raised part of the silver frame.

I'm 95% sure this isn't a genuine piece, but I thought getting points of view from people who know more wouldn't hurt.

[Chopperman]

One other reason to be skeptical is the price. For a real one, you would need
to add two more zeros to the current bid amount. I'm not saying that deals
can not be found on ebay, but this is not one of them.

This 1813 is a 1914 that's been destroyed to make a trinket.
Something to watch for with 1813 crosses is the frame beading. Most original
early crosses have much finer beading. Off the top of my head, it's something like
40-44 beads per arm compared to 32-36 on a 1914. Don't quote me on the numbers
it's been a while sense I've counted them up. But it's enough to show a visible
difference when comparing crosses side to side.

Another thing that is a good rule of thumb when looking at any iron cross.
Beware of orange rust. Orange rust is new rust. Not something to be found
on a 100 year old 1914 yet alone on a 1813.

[BlackCat1982]

The beading also looks like it has been crushed in a vice at some point as well.

[DarthGanon]

Thanks for the info on the rust and the beading, Chopperman.

And yeah, price was another thing that stood out.

You know what they say about something being too good to be true.