Germany, Heer. A Mint German Cross in Gold, Cloth Version, by Hermann Schmuck & Cie

(Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, Stoffausführung). A cloth version of the German Cross in Gold, the obverse consisting of a double-overlaid eight-pointed starburst featuring a field-grey wool base, overlaid by machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire and slate-grey embroidery, bearing a central white cotton disc overlaid by a black mobile swastika trimmed with silver aluminum wire borders, situated within a circular gilded cupal laurel leaf wreath, wrapped on ribbon and joined together at the bottom by a plaque bearing an institution date of “1941”, the reverse retaining a fully-intact black paper liner bearing the maker’s logo of Hermann Schmuck & Cie., Weißenberg, measuring 75 mm (w) x 75 mm (h), weighing 7.1 grams, demonstrating some loss of gilt finish to the wreath, an unissued example of superior quality in near mint condition.

Footnote: This example was retrieved by a United States serviceman in the field during the Second World War, and hails directly from his estate without previously being available on the collector market.