Austria, Imperial. An Order Of The Iron Crown, Ii Class, With Iii Class War Decoration, C.1915

(Orden der Eisernen Krone 2. Klasse). Instituted on 7 April 1815 by Emperor Franz I. Type 3. (1914-1918 Issue). A II Class Order of the Iron Crown constructed of gilded bronze, consists of the Lombard Iron Crown presenting green, red and white-enamelled jewels, on which rests the two-headed Austrian eagle with sword and orb, with a blue enamelled central shield showing on the obverse the imperial initial F and on the reverse the year 1815, in Gold a green enamelled wreath encircles the obverse shield, above rests the imperial crown firmly attached to the double-headed eagle, measuring 33.5mm (w) x 64.5mm (h – inclusive of cross adorned horizontally pierced ball on crown suspension), weighs 29.4 grams, unmarked but of Rothe manufacture, worn on a period neck ribbon, enamels intact, a very rare decoration in extremely fine condition. 

Accompanied by an eMedals Certificate of Authenticity signed by Dr. Georg Ludwigstorff, Militaria Expert at Dorotheum GmBH and author of "Austrian Orders and Decorations."

Footnote: The war decoration of the lower 3rd Class is shown by a laurel wreath around the central shield on the obverse. By the end of 1917 (taking into account only awards from 1914-17), the number of members of the order for 2nd Class alive at a given time was 375 Austrian/Hungarians and 123 foreigners. See, M. Christian Ortner and Georg Ludwigstorff, Austrian Orders and Decorations, Part 1/Volume 2: The Imperial-Royal Orders up to 1918 (Verlag Militaria, 2017), 162.