Austria (Imperial): Golden Cross of Merit. On wartime military riband. with 'Emperor Franz Joseph' FJ monogram. Gold (Gilt) & enamel

Sold together with:

- Leatherette plush lined case of issue. This with tooled letter on lid D. K. the inner silk panel with a gilt tooled crest

The inside of the box with a velvet recess

The order is maker marked on suspension loop with Wilh. Kunz, Wien X, also featuring a star hallmark

The decoration was instituted on 16 February 1850. The decoration came in four classes. During the First World War, the award was extended to include the Iron Cross of Merit with and without a crown on April 1, 1916, for the duration of the war. The latter class was intended exclusively for lower ranking soldiers. As a sign of bravery in the face of the enemy, Emperor Karl I introduced the awarding of swords to all classes of the Cross of Merit on December 13, 1916. When awarded with swords, they were to be placed on either a trifold ribbon or on a ribbon bar. The cross is suspended from a red trifold ribbon in peacetime and the ribbon of the Medal for Bravery in wartime

The medal is suspended from its original silk Austrian 'tri-fold' riband complete with fittings

Condition: EF

Code: 24868