Germany, Federal Republic. A Lot of Knight’s Crosses of the War Merit Cross, 1957 Versions

(Ritterkreuz der Kriegsverdienstkreuzes). A lot of Knight’s Crosses of the War Merit Cross, 1957 versions,including:

1. A Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords, constructed of silver, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a central circular oak leaf wreath, joined together at the top and bottom by ribbon, surrounding a pebbled void, the reverse bearing a central circular oak leaf wreath, surrounding a raised date of “1939”, the twelve o’clock arm topped by two ribbed bars culminating in an integral loop and suspension ring retaining an original shortened length of neck ribbon, the integral loop stamped with a silver content number of “800” and number “41” (possibly a Präsidialkanzlei number indicating production by Gebrüder Bender, Oberstein, as a known wartime manufacturer of the lower grades of the War Merit Cross), measuring 51.52 mm (w) x 57.50 mm (h), weighing 27.2 grams, demonstrating a consistent patina throughout, in extremely fine condition.

2. A second Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords, constructed of silver, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a central circular oak leaf wreath, joined together at the top and bottom by ribbon, surrounding a pebbled void, the reverse bearing a central circular oak leaf wreath, surrounding a raised date of “1939”, the twelve o’clock arm topped by two ribbed bars culminating in an integral loop and suspension ring retaining an original shortened length of neck ribbon, the integral loop stamped with a silver content number of “800” and number “41” (possibly a Präsidialkanzlei number indicating production by Gebrüder Bender, Oberstein, as a known wartime manufacturer of the lower grades of the War Merit Cross), measuring 51.86 mm (w) x 57.50 mm (h), weighing 27.4 grams, demonstrating a consistent patina throughout, in extremely fine condition.

3. A third Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords, constructed of neusilber, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a central circular oak leaf wreath, joined together at the top and bottom by ribbon, surrounding a pebbled void, the reverse bearing a central circular oak leaf wreath, surrounding a raised date of “1939”, the twelve o’clock arm topped by two ribbed bars culminating in an integral loop and suspension ring, the integral loop stamped with a silver content number of “800” and number “41” (possibly a Präsidialkanzlei number indicating production by Gebrüder Bender, Oberstein, as a known wartime manufacturer of the lower grades of the War Merit Cross), measuring 53.20 mm (w) x 59.19 mm (h), weighing 39.8 grams, in near mint condition.

4. A Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross without Swords, constructed of silver, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing a central circular oak leaf wreath, joined together at the top and bottom by ribbon, surrounding a pebbled void, the reverse bearing a central circular oak leaf wreath, surrounding a raised date of “1939”, the twelve o’clock arm topped by two ribbed bars culminating in an integral loop and suspension ring, the integral loop stamped with a silver content number of “800”, measuring 53.13 mm (w) x 59.37 mm (h), weighing 54.0 grams, in extremely fine condition.