(Kaiserlicher Orden der Eisernen Krone). Reinstituted in 1815 by Emperor Franz I. Civil Division. Type III (1860-1918). A lovely III class Order of the Iron Crown, constructed of 18kt Gold (tested), presenting a double headed eagle with gentle feather details, clutching a sword an orb with a blue enamelled central shield on the obverse inscribed F., the reverse bears a blue enamelled central shield inscribed 1815, the eagle sits a top a Lombard Iron Crown featuring red and green enamelled jewels and white enamel band accents, surmounting royal crown with an internal red enamelled cap sits above te , marked on the base of the pendilia and the suspension ring with an FR denoting Rothe manufacturing, a city mark A denoting Vienna, and a Gemsenkopf mark for 18k Gold mark identifying former Austro-Hungarian Empire, 1872-1922 manufacture, measures 29mm (w) x 56.20mm (h – inclusive of cross adorned crown suspension), weighs 18.7 grams, suspended from an elongated loop with white enamel detailing, oxidation to the gold has resulted in a unique pink-purple colouration, enamels all intact, overall in extremely fine condition.
Footnote: The Order of the Iron Crown was originally established by Napoleon I on June 5, 1805, just a few days after his coronation as the King of Italy. This order was awarded for services to the crown in military, administration, arts and literature. In 1809, the insignia was altered, with the inscription in Italian and small beads were added to the points of the crown. The order was dissolved in 1814, when the “Austrian” Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia was founded in place of the French control. The Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom joined the Austrian Empire in 1814 and was under control of the Emperor of Austria. The Napoleonic order of the Iron Crown became the Austrian ‘imperial’ dynastic order. By January 1816, the new statues were approved by Emperor Franz I, and the order was officially restored on his birthday, February 12, 1816 as the “Austrian Imperial Order of the Iron Crown.”