Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, I Class Cross With Iii Class War Decoration, By A. Reitterer, C.1930 GTRexclude including a wartime group photo

including a wartime group photo depicting Heer Enlisted soldier wearing Pickelhauben

There is some soiling of the sweatband and age-related fatigue to the leather rim of the visor

awarded about six weeks prior

obverse illustrating two sprinters

Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, I Class Cross With Iii Class War Decoration, By A. Reitterer, C.1930 GTRexclude including a wartime group photoInstituted October 24, 1849. In silver, a white and red enamelled cross pattee, the center medallion with the gilt inscription VER DIENST (For Merit), sections of a gilt wreath in each quadrant of the arms denotes III Class war decoration, the reverse presents a single vertica pin marked AR denoting manufacture by Anton Reitterer, and 935 silver mark, measures 61. 10mm (w) x 60. 80mm (h), weighs 74. 7 grams, enamels intact, oxidation to silver on