Germany, Imperial. A 1914 Iron Cross I Class, Screwback Version, Privately-Purchased Example

(Eisernes Kreuz 1914 I. Klasse an Schraubscheibe). Reinstituted 5 August 1914 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. (1914-1918 issue). Constructed of iron and silver, consisting of a vaulted Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial “W”, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1914”, the twelve o’clock arm with a royal crown, the reverse with a central screw post retaining a Cross Pattée-shaped backplate and nut, both manufactured by Paul Meybauer and substituted in from a similar cross, the cross, backplate, and nut stamped with silver content numbers of “800”, “500”, and “800”, respectively, measuring 42.70 mm (w) x 42.47 mm (h), weighing 23.1 grams (inclusive of hardware), loss of finish resulting in minor surface oxidation is visible to the core, while the reverse shows the outlines of the award’s original circular backplate, a privately-purchased example featuring mixed hardware, in better than very fine condition.