Germany, Imperial. A Helvetia Benigna Medal for Women, by B.H. Mayer, c.1917

(Helvetia Benigna-Medaille). Instituted 15 May 1917 by Kaiser Wilhelm I. (1917-1919 issue). Constructed of silver, on loop for suspension from its period original bow tie ribbon with horizontal pinback, the obverse consisting of a central raised depiction of Helvetia, surrounded by wounded soldiers and civilians, topped by an inscription of “HELVETIA BENIGNA”, the reverse with a central inscription of “DAS DANKBARE DEUTSCHLAND ZUR ERINNERUNG AN DEN WELTKRIEG” (“THE GRATITUDE OF GERMANY IN MEMORY OF THE WORLD WAR”), within a laurel wreath, topped by a Geneva Cross, both the obverse and reverse maker marked with the logo of B.H. Mayer, Pforzheim, with the reverse also bearing a silver content number of “990”, measuring 34.22 mm in diameter, weighing 15.6 grams (inclusive of ribbon), in extremely fine condition.