Germany, Wehrmacht. A Rare German Cross in Gold, Heavy Version, by C.E. Juncker

(Deutsches Kreuz in Gold). Constructed of gilded and silvered tombak with multi-coloured enamels, the obverse consisting of a double-overlaid eight-pointed starburst, bearing a central silvered disc overlaid by a black enameled mobile swastika, situated within a circular gilt laurel leaf, wrapped in ribbon and joined together at the bottom by a plaque bearing an institution date of “1941”, trimmed along both the inner and outer edges with red enameled borders, the reverse with five visible rivets securing the obverse features in position, with a barrel hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, the pinback maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “2” for C.E. Juncker, Berlin, with characteristics of the firm’s heavy version using its Type 2 wreath,  measuring 63.40 mm (w) x 63.20 mm (h), weighing 60.4 grams, demonstrating minor surface chipping and scratching to the enamels with some loss of finish to the base metal which exposes this variant’s classic tombak base metal, a high-quality example in near extremely fine condition.