Austria, Empire. An Order of the Iron Crown, I Class Star, by Rothe, c.1900
(Orden der Eisernen Krone, Stern der Ritter I. Klasse). Re-established in 1815. (Issued 1877-1918). An eight-pointed silver star with jewel-cut faceted rays, the obverse with a central Gold medallion with a sun-ray pattern depicting a miniature “Iron Crown” in Gold and multi-coloured enamels, surrounded by a broad ring of blue enamels, inscribed “AVITA ET AUCTA” (Inherit and Multiply) in Gold capital letters, with a laurel and oak bushel in Gold below, surrounded by a jewel-cut faceted Gold ring and silver ring, the reverse plain, with a vertical pinback and a functional hinge/catch assembly, marked “FR” for Rothe manufacture, an “A” assay mark for Vienna, and a “3 Houndhead A” denoting 800 silver purity, measuring 85.31 mm (w) x 83.93 mm (h), weighing 57.4 grams, with the enamels extremely well preserved, in near mint condition.

