1918, Struck Silver, Commemorative medal, 36mm, 19.60g., Rim-stamp, BAYER.HAUPTMÜNZAMT.FEINSILBER.

Obverse:  Rittmeister • Manfred • Frhr • V • Richthofen; (Cavalry Captain Baron von Richthofen), Bust 3/4 left, in military uniform with overcoat and wearing the "Blue Max" medal.

Reverse:  Memorial stone with Iron Cross and dated 12.April 1918. Above, an arrow with the number of "kills" he was credited with. In foreground, Richthofen's coat of arms and helmet with wings. The German eagle stands to the left calling to the sky, "Der rote Kampf- flieger" (the red fighter pilot). K•GOETZ at base of monument.

Goetz had both the date of death and number of kills wrong on this first medal. Richthofen was actually responsible for downing 80 airplanes and he met his demise on April 21, 1918.  It was thought that Goetz had corrected this information before reducing the medal for striking.  Apparently he didn't catch it until after struck examples began production.  He changed the information and these struck K-288 pieces, as opposed to Struck K-288a (see karlgoetz.com) pieces, are of uber rarity.

Contained within it's original blue cardboard box with red bi-plane graphic.