Germany, Wehrmacht. An Early First Type Clasp to the 1939 Iron Cross, I Class

(Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz). Constructed of silvered tombak, presenting as a German national eagle clutching wreathed mobile swastika, above a scalloped trapezoid depicting reinstitution date of “1939”, reverse features a barrel hinge with vertical pinback meeting round wire catch, an early and unmarked example, measuring 44.73 mm (w) x 30.90 mm (h) and weighing 11.7 grams, in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: As per “The Iron Cross 1. Class”, Dietrich Maetz and George Stimson, 2010, the attributes of this clasp suggest it is an early-version, unknown-maker example found on page 456. This type is often attributed to C.E. Juncker of Berlin, despite a lack of unmarked examples from this manufacturer.