Austria, Empire. A Military Merit Medal "Signum Laudis", II Class Bronze Grade Case, c.1910

(Militär-Verdienstmedaille "Signum Laudis"). Instituted in 1890. Hardshelled design on both the lid and base, the exterior with a red thatched covering on five sides, the bottom with a pebbled black paper covering, the lid bearing the inscription "Bronzene Militär Verdienst medaille" in gold-coloured ink and framed by two recessed rules on the perimeter, inside lid lined in white satin, padded and maker marked "ZIMBLER, WIEN VII./ K.u.K. HOF-LIEFERANT BURGGASSE 33", white fabric-wrapped cardboard insert placed within the base and incorporating a recessed medal bed in black felt, dual-hinged, push release closure, measuring 65.5 mm in width x 111 mm in height x 22 mm in depth, light wear and soiling evident on the exterior, very fine.

Footnote: The Military Merit Medal was a military decoration of the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I on March 12, 1890. The Military Merit Medal is often referred to as the "Signum Laudis" (Latin for "sign of praise") after the inscription on the reverse of the medal, and issued in two grades: Silver and Bronze.