Lot 4023

Description

Austria, Cross of Merit with crown, instituted 1849, breast badge in gold (54mm x 36mm including crown; 14gm), hollow crown suspender voided at top (Vernon 65), maker's name on suspension ring, F.Braun in Wien, on plain crimson ribbon. In original case, ribbon with some dirt marks, medal uncirculated.

The decoration is probably gold because when metal restrictions required the award to be made of gilt bronze the cross was marked somewhere with an asterisk so it could be exchanged for a gold issue once restrictions were lifted. There is no asterisk on this cross.