This guide will address only the BEAUNE LA ROLANDE clasp which was worn on the 1870-1871 Kriegdenkmünze. The BEAUNE LA ROLANDE clasp was authorized in 1895 and made available for private purchase for 35 pfennigs to 1 Reichsmark, depending on the salesman.  This is rarely seen on the market as a loose single clasp.  The clasp BEAUNE LA ROLANDE was awarded for the battle against the French in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War.  The German recipients were mainly from the 2nd Army (although there were a few exceptions).   

BEAUNE LA ROLANDE clasp (Type 5B)

Currently, there appears to be less than 20 manufacturers of official clasps.  It should be noted that the prices can vary considerably from dealer to dealer - especially if accompanied with other medals or documentation.  Some jeweler's copy clasps have been hallmarked.  Each clasp has different manufacturing styles:  (1) flat single ribbon width, wide lettering  - 3.1 cm long, .5+cm tall, .05 cm thick (2) flat single ribbon width, narrow lettering - 3.1 cm long, .5+cm tall, .05 cm thick  (3) flat 1 1/2 ribbon width, wide lettering  (4) flat 1 1/2 ribbon width, narrow lettering  (5) thick single ribbon width, hollow back, "fat" wide lettering - 3.1cm long, .6cm tall, .1cm thick (6) flat single ribbon width, tall & wide lettering and ca. 25% taller than the official clasps - 3.1 cm long, .6cm tall,  .05cm thick   There are 2 different attachment methods:  (A) slip-on (B) prong back - and there are different styles to the prongs.  It's important to note that the clasp background is pebbled (sometimes taking on the appearance of cross-hatched) in all cases and is not flat or smooth (a good indicator of a copy clasp).  Currently, it appears that at least one manufacturer used the BEAUNE-LA-ROLANDE lettering style as it did on some of the other calsps.  Another tip is that if you view the edge, it is smooth, there is no ridge showing the mold separation because the original clasps were struck from dies.   The following is a sample list of clasps which have appeared on the market:

• 1982 (Type 5B, DM 50), German dealer.
• 1993 (Type 1, €72), German dealer.
• 1993 (Type 2B, €72), German dealer.
• 1993 (Type 3B, €72), German dealer.
• 1993 (Type 5B, €72), German dealer.
• Jan. 2000 (remounted Franco-Prussian War Medal with Type 5B clasp & 1866 König Gratz Cross & 1864 Prussian-Bavarian War Medal & 1897 Centenary Medal & Prussia Military Long Service Award), private German collection.
• Sep. 2002 (BEAUNE-LA-ROLANDE spelling variant Type 3B, €150), German dealer.
• Feb. 2006 (Type 5B, €175), German dealer.
• Apr. 2007 (Type 5B, €33), eBay.

There is a series of clasps bearing this name that are made for the various WWI veteran medals.  They are typically distinguished by having a flat (or relatively flat) background or with the wording +BEAUNE LA ROLANDE+ or made of a type of metal noticably different than the 1870-1871 KDM (and very often it's very similar to the Kyffhäauserbund Medal) and are very rarely Type 6.  They are normally similar to Type 2B or 3B - with longer than normal original prongs which are typically flat and slightly beveled.  While these clasp are collector items in themselves, they are not original official clasps for the KDM.  There are a few exceptions to these general rules but these are best left to a specialist collector. 

For your convenience, other associated guides can be found at:    http://reviews.ebay.com/Imperial-German-Medal-Guides-Index_W0QQugidZ10000000002386112.  Please visit my blog (http://blogs.ebay.com/tsa-li) and/or guides for further information.  Thank you for your visit!