Cased Imperial 1st Class Iron Cross

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German Empire, WWI - Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse 1914 im Etui. 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 a brass metal base that has been black enamel painted. The frame and back plate are constructed out of a nickel-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 fullback reverse features a soldered-on rectangular round catch, soldered-on large foot sheet metal hinge and a coke bottle pin. The cross measures 1 5/8 inches wide and tall. The cross comes housed in its issue case. It is constructed out of a wood and pressed cardboard base that is covered in a simulated black grained leatherette. The top features a pressed silver foil outline of a 1st Class Iron Cross. The interior lid is lined in white stain base that has an underlying pad. The bottom interior of the case is constructed out of a cardboard base that is covered in a pearl velvet material that outlines a pin, hinge and catch assembly. To the very front is a round steel push button and the back features a steel piano hinge. Both continue to work well. The case measures 2 9/16 inches wide and deep and 7/8 of an inch thick. A nice assembly.