WORTHINGTON FINE ART GALLERIES

Original Antique Austria Hungary Military Merit Cross with Case | This is a very nice 3rd Class (Knights Badge) Military Merit Medal constructed out of a multi-piece, die struck nickel-silver base that has been silvered and contains red and white enamel work. The obverse displays a red and white pattée style cross that reads “Verdienst” (Merit) to the center and shows a laurel leaf and berry wreath to the corners. The reverse is white and with the same wreath to the corners.  Medal includes a triangular folded (Austrian style) red and white rayon ribbon | Circa. 1914 | Approx. Size: 1.25″ without ribbon | Very Good Condition with Enamel Intact | Includes the original case.

Provenance: Part of a prominent Lifelong Military Medal Collection; Acquired from private Chicago, IL family of the collector.

The Military Merit Cross (German: Militärverdienstkreuz, Hungarian: Katonai Érdemkereszt, Croatian: Vojni križ za zasluge) was a decoration of the Empire of Austria and, after the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867, the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was first established on October 22, 1849 and underwent several revisions to its design and award criteria over the years of its existence. It became obsolete in 1918 with the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.