Military Merit Cross, Type II, Civil Division, I Class Cross
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 02.AUT.0102.101.01.000
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An Austrian Military Merit Cross; 1st Class Cross Second Period (1914-1918)
Collector's Copy by Rothe of Vienna, c. 1960; Multi-piece construction, silver with red and white enamels, Gold lettering in the centrepiece, marked "925" (silver), marked "WIEN" (Vienna), dual hallmarked for Rothe of Vienna and the unofficial mark with the Diana's head (Dianakopf) hallmark, which was used between 1872 and 1922, the number "3" to the left of her head indicating the silver fineness and the letter "A" to the right of her head indicating the city of assay (Vienna) on the pin, 62.5 mm x 62.5 mm, vertical pinback, repair evident in the red enamels on the base of the bottom arm, light contact, near extremely fine.
This decoration was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I. It was awarded to Officers in the Austrian Army who displayed extraordinary courage and merit in wartime, or who rendered outstanding service in peacetime.
On January 12, 1860, an Imperial decree added a War Decoration to the cross for recipients that had courageously faced the enemy during war time. The War Decoration is a gilt laurel wreath that is attached between the cross arms. The general appearance of the decoration was altered as well, with white enamel being added into the arms of the cross and into the central medallion.
Consequently, from 1860 onward the peacetime awards do not feature a laurel wreath, and the wartime awards do have a laurel wreath.
There were several changes made to the cross during Type II (1914-1918).
On September 23, 1914 the Order was amended by an Imperial decree that divided the cross into three separate grades, I Class, II Class, and III Class. Furthermore, on December 13, 1916 crossed swords were added to all crosses awarded for wartime merit, alongside the War Decoration. The III Class, swords were attached to the triangular ribbon. The I and II Class decorations received the crossed swords through the body of the cross. The lower grade swords are made of oxidized silver. The I Class was ranked just below the Order of St. Stephen Grand Cross, and the II Class was ranked just below the Commander.
The Type II I Class Cross has varying levels of the War Decoration, including the regular War Decoration, the II Class War Decoration, and the III Class War Decoration.
The regular War Decoration is a large enamelled laurel wreath between the cross arms, it continued to be awarded to Officers for wartime merit.
The II Class War Decoration is a small enamelled laurel wreath that tightly surrounds the obverse medallion. The II Class War Decoration was added to the I Class Cross when the recipient had previously been awarded the I Class Cross (with War Decoration). If the recipient had previously been awarded the II Class Cross (with War Decoration and swords), gold-coloured crossed swords and the II Class War Decoration were added to the I Class Cross.
The III Class War Decoration is a small laurel wreath without enamel that surrounds the centre medallion. The III Class War Decoration was added to the I Class Cross when the recipient had previously been awarded the III Class Cross (with War Decoration). If the recipient had previously been awarded the III Class Cross (with War Decoration and swords), silver-coloured crossed swords and the III Class War Decoration were added to the I Class Cross.
The I Class Cross was only awarded to high ranking military personnel, such as Generals.
The Small awards, also known as Kleine Dekorationen or Small Orders, were worn as less formal versions of the crosses. The Small awards adopted the form of the III Class Cross (with War Decoration) and feature miniature devices on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross has a miniature I Class Cross on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross (with War Decoration) has a miniature I Class Cross with a large laurel wreath on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross (with War Decoration and gold swords) has a miniature I Class Cross with a large laurel wreath and crossed gold swords on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross (with War Decoration and silver swords) has a miniature I Class Cross with a large laurel wreath and crossed silver swords on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross (with II Class War Decoration) has a miniature I Class Cross with a smaller laurel wreath with enamel on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross (with II Class War Decoration and gold swords) has a miniature I Class Cross with a smaller laurel wreath with enamel and crossed gold swords on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross (with II Class War Decoration and silver swords) has a miniature I Class Cross with a smaller laurel wreath with enamel and crossed silver swords on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross (with III Class War Decoration) has a miniature I Class Cross with a smaller laurel wreath with no enamel on the ribbon.
The Small I Class Cross (with III Class War Decoration and swords) has a miniature I Class Cross with a smaller laurel wreath with no enamel and crossed swords on the ribbon.
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