Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, II Class with Swords with War Decoration, by Rudolf Marschall

(Militärverdienstkreuz, II. Klasse mit Schwertern und Kriegsdekoration). In silver, consisting of a Cross Pattée, obverse with red and white enameled arms, the quadrants with a green enameled laurel wreath, with a central white enameled medallion bearing a raised silver inscription of “VERDIENST” (“MERIT”), surrounded by a ring of red enamels, the reverse plain, with fully white enameled arms and centerpiece, the twelve o’clock arm with an integral loop accommodating a privately made cast silver gilt suspension with a green enameled laurel wreath thereby indicating a second award, in turn connected to a loop with the decoration’s period original shortened neck ribbon, the six o’clock arm maker marked “R. Marschall” for Rudolf Marschall, Vienna, with a Vienna silver assay mark on the suspension ring, measuring 40.82 mm (w) x 46.03 mm (h), weighing 33.3 grams, minor flecking of laurel enamels evident, residue on obverse, otherwise near very fine. 

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.