Austria, Imperial. An Order of the Iron Crown, III Class, with Swords, c.1916

(Orden der Eisernen Krone 3. Klasse). Instituted on 7 April 1815 by Emperor Franz I. Type 3. (Issued 1914-1918). A Third Class Order of the Iron Crown constructed of gilded bronze, consists of the Lombard Iron Crown presenting green, red and white-enameled jewels, on which rests the two-headed Austrian eagle with sword and orb, with a blue enamelled central shield showing on the obverse the imperial initial F and on the reverse the year 1815, above rests the imperial crown firmly attached to the double-headed eagle, unmarked, measuring 28.27 mm (w) x 55.49 mm (h - inclusive of crown), suspended from a hollow swivel crown suspension from a horizontally pierced ball and flat suspension loop, with period original triangular ribbon, bearing gilded crossed swords, and in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: By the end of 1917 (taking into account only awards from 1914-17), the number of members of the order for 3rd Class alive at a given time was 6320 Austrian/Hungarians and 640 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.