Austria, Empire. An Iron Crown Order, III Class, c.1820

Type I, measuring 25.4 mm x 46.0 mm, constructed of silver, covered completely with thin plate of Gold (not gold plated), centers enameled, crown below partially enameled, slightly worn, in very fine condition and very rare. Footnote: this method of covering silver (other metals) in thin sheet of gold was achieved by artisan slowly hammering thin sheet of gold around the object until the gold covering took a shape of the object; needless to say, a very long and time consuming process done by expert goldsmith.