Austria, Imperial. An Early Military Merit Cross, c.1860 Auction Archive the aircraft coming to rest

the aircraft coming to rest in the Laacher Sea (a volcanic caldera lake) near Andernach Germany

each lens measuring 42 mm in diameter

marked with a boars head mark on the 6 o’clock (denoting French manufacture of 900 silver

constructed of a pressed card stock frame with a faux olive-drab leather exterior liner

the reverse bearing a central silver medallion overlaid by a raised number of “1849”

Austria, Imperial. An Early Military Merit Cross, c.1860 Auction Archive the aircraft coming to restInstituted October 24, 1849. Type I. (Civil Division). An early and well constructed cross, in silver and red enamels, the obverse medallion featuring the inscription VER DIENST, the reverse is of white enamels, measures 29. 87 mm (w) x 34. 18 mm (h), weighs 13. 46 grams inclusive of ribbon, worn on a thick original double barrel suspension loop and trifold ribbon, very minor enamel wear to the reverse, dark patina, extremely fine.