Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, Type I, in Case, c.1880 Newly Listed original ribbon with horizontal pinback

original ribbon with horizontal pinback bar (one of two threads come loose)

topped by a hand-embroidered master roll number of “002001A/34”

(Reichsarbeitsdienst Hauer für Führer)

total of 1787 awarded

around the upper edge the inscription “Soldier’s Medal” and across the face the words “For Valor”

Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, Type I, in Case, c.1880 Newly Listed original ribbon with horizontal pinback(Militrverdienstkreuz). Instituted on October 24th, 1849. First Period (1849 1914). Civil Division. An early Military Merit Cross, in silver and enamels, consisting of a Cross Patte with red and white enamelled arms, the obverse with a central white enamelled medallion inscribed with VERDIENST (Merit), the reverse with white enamelled arms and center, marked on the integral suspension ring with an FR denoting Rothe manufacture, an Austria Hungary dog