Most fakes are cast, while the originals were die struck. Look at the badge under a 10 power glass to see if there are any scratches that would indicate finishing from a power tool to remove the above faults. Usually the fakes are thicker than the originals. Remember, it is very rare to find one of these awards in pristine condition. They were worn at every opportunity by the owners and should reflect it.
Most matched sets have one pristine badge and the other with heavy wear.
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