Imperial 1st Class Iron Cross by L/11

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German Empire, WWI, c.1941 – Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse 1914 by L/11 Wilhelm Deumer of Lüdenscheid. Reinstituted August 5, 1914, by Emperor Wilhelm II, as the third endowment, the 1st Class Iron Cross was awarded to personnel who had received the 2nd Class Iron Cross and made significant sacrifice during the war. From March 16, 1915, the Iron Cross could also be awarded to members of the states allied with Germany. It is a multi-piece, die struck construction that has been soldered together. The single piece core is constructed out of an iron metal base that has been black enamel painted. The frame and back plate are constructed out of an 800 silver content base. A final protectant lacquer was applied over the entire award. The obverse features a pattée style cross that has a centrally placed embossed “W” (cypher of King Wilhelm I & II), below the royal crown of Prussia (top arm) and above “1914” (lower arm), which is on a black base and surrounded by a silvered ribbed/beaded row and a flat outlying border. The full-back reverse is maker marked: “L/11” (within a rectangular border) and features a soldered-on block hinge, soldered-on c-shaped catch and coke bottle pin. All of the components are non-magnetic and continue to work well. It measures 1 ¾ inches wide and tall. Deumer offered Imperial Iron Crosses in their 1939 sales catalog. As the LDO formed in 1941, this piece would have been purchased by the original recipient sometime after 1941, likely to replace their original issued lost award. A great example!