Germany, Imperial. A 1914 Iron Cross I Class, Privately-Purchased Example Newly Listed trimmed with interwoven silver aluminum

trimmed with interwoven silver aluminum wire and dark grey wool threaded piping

Patriotic Order of Merit (Vaterländischer Verdienstorden)

with the arms joined through the quadrants by a green enameled laurel and oak leaf wreath and with crossed swords through the centrepiece

and measure 40 mm (w) x 50 mm (l)

Germany, Imperial. A 1914 Iron Cross I Class, Privately-Purchased Example Newly Listed trimmed with interwoven silver aluminum(Eisernes Kreuz 1914 I. Klasse). Reinstituted 5 August 1914 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. (1914 1918 issue). Constructed of iron and silver, consisting of a vaulted Cross Patte with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial W, the six oclock arm with a reinstitution date of 1914, the twelve oclock arm with a royal crown, the reverse with a barrel hinge affixed to an elongated mount and tapering vertical