Austria, Empire. An Order of Franz Joseph in Gold, Commander Cross, by Vincent Mayer’s Söhne, c.1900

(Kaiserlich-Österreichischer Franz-Joseph-Orden). Instituted on December 2, 1849 by Franz Joseph I. Type I. Civil Division. 1869-1914 issued. Composed of Gold, a hollow four-armed cross exhibiting fine red enamels and golden edges, flanked by a highly detailed enameled black double-headed imperial eagle with a loop of chain holding on their beaks, lower edge bore by the emperor’s motto VIRIBUS UNITIS (With United Forces), surmounted by the Austrian-Hungarian imperial crown with enameled details, the obverse with an enameled white central medallion superposed by the letters “FJ” for Franz Joseph I, reverse exhibiting the institution date “1849” on a white enamel central medallion, maker’s mark “VM” for Vincent Mayer’s Söhne of Vienna, gold hallmark denoting Vienna manufacture between 1872 and 1922, measuring 37.29 mm (w) x 69.65 mm (h - inclusive of crown), weighing 22.5 grams, loop suspension hallmarked twice with “A” initial symbolizing assembly in Vienna, on typical flat suspension loop and period original red neck ribbon, with minor tarnished Gold, otherwise extremely fine condition.

Footnote: The Order of Franz Joseph was established by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria on December 2, 1849, to commemorate the first anniversary of his accession to the imperial throne.The order ceased to exist with the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and it was not re-established with the foundation of the Republic of Austria.