This guide will address only the NOISSEVILLE clasp which was worn on the 1870-1871 Kriegdenkmünze. The NOISSEVILLE clasp was authorized in 1895 and made available for private purchase for 35 pfennigs to 1 Reichsmark, depending on the salesman.  NOISSEVILLE is rarely seen on the market as a loose single clasp but is often found mainly with the METZ and GRAVELOTTE-ST. PRIVAT clasps.  The clasp NOISSEVILLE was awarded for the battle against the French in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War.  The German recipients were mainly from the I Corps of the 1st Army (although there were a few exceptions).   

NOISSEVILLE 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  - ca. 3.1 cm long, .5+cm tall, .05 cm thick (2) flat single ribbon width, narrow lettering - ca. 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 - ca. 3.1cm long, .6cm tall, .1cm thick (6) flat single ribbon width, tall & wide lettering and ca. 25% taller than the official clasps - ca. 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 (some manufacturing styles convey the appearance of a cross-hatch background) in all cases and is not flat or smooth (a good indicator of a copy clasp).  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.   It does not appear that there is a 1892 unofficial version of this clasp.  A NOISSEVILLE clasp was manufactured for wear on various veteran medals which is readily distinguished by having a flat background and/or long flat prongs which are beveled at the end and almost touch each other.  The following is a list of clasps which have appeared on the market.

• 1993 (Type 5B, €38), German dealer. 
• 1993 (Type 6B, €38), German dealer.
• 1993 (Type 1, €38), German dealer.
• Sep. 2002 (Type 3B, €120), German dealer.
• Feb. 2005 (mounted KDM with NOISSEVILLE & METZ - both Type 5B - and 1897 Centenary Medal, €250), German dealer.
• May 2007  NOTE:  An assortment of 4 clasps:  VILLIERS, WÖRTH, BELFORT, and a miniature NOISSEVILLE was sold on eBay for €112.

My best advice is:  purchase this clasp from a dealer who specializes in Imperial German or Prussian medals and who has a good knowledge of these clasps.  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!