Austria, Empire. An Order of the Iron Crown, I Class Star with War Decoration, by C. F. Rothe, c.1914

(Orden der Eisernen Krone, Stern der Ritter I Klasse mit Kriegsdekoration). Instituted on 7 April 1815 by Emperor Franz I. Type 3. Issued 1914-1918. Of high quality manufacture in silver, consisting of a multiple ray faceted star, obverse centre presenting a silver gilt Lombardy Crown with finely enameled details, encircling by hand filled beaded ring in Gold, as well as a blue enamel border inscribed AVITA ET AUCTA also in Gold, notably presented with a beautiful a hand etched silver gilt laurel wreath denoting the awarding of a war decoration, reverse with principle pin assembly, well marked with maker’s mark of C. F. ROTHE, Vienna, together with hallmark denoting manufactured in Vienna, also hallmarked by Austrian hallmark symbolizing silver fineness of .750 between 1872 and 1922, measuring 90.55 mm (w) x 90.04 mm (h), presenting slight toned silver and gilt loss, extremely fine.

Footnote: By the end of 1917 (taking into account only awards from 1914-17), the number of members of the order alive at a given time was 126 Austrian/Hungarians and 119 foreigners. See, M. Christian Ortner and Georg Ludwigstorff, Austrian Orders and Decorations, Part 1/Volume 2: The Imperial-Royal Orders up to 1918 (Verlag Militaria, 2017), 162. 

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.