Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, III Class with Swords, by Vincent Mayer, c.1914

(Militärverdienstkreuz). Instituted on October 24th, 1849. Type II (1914-1918 Issue). A Military Merit Cross III Class, of multi-piece construction, in silver with red and white enamels,  consisting of a Cross Pattée with red and white enamelled arms, with gilded laurel leaves in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, 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 VM maker mark denoting manufacture by Vincent Mayer and Sohne and silver mark denoting Austro-Hungarian manufacture between 1872-1922, suspension from its period original tri-fold ribbon bearing crossed sword device, measures 30.5 mm (w) x 34.3 mm (h), weighs 17.9 grams including ribbon, staining on the reverse enamels, flakes and chips to the obverse enamels, discolouration to the ribbon, very fine condition.