Germany, Wehrmacht. A Cased War Merit Cross, I Class, by Karl Gschiermeister
(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Etui). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross, the obverse with pebbled arms and a central mobile swastika inside of an oak leaf wreath, the reverse with a barrel hinge and banjo-style pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the pinback marked with code “50” for maker Karl Gschiermeister, Wien, measuring 48.65 mm (w) x 48.24 mm (h), weighing 17.1 grams, accompanied by its period original presentation case, constructed of card stock with a faux black leather exterior, the interior with a white satin-type lid liner and intact hinge cover, with a slotted black doeskin medal bed, opening with a functional magnetic metal spring catch with exterior stud release and a functional magnetic metal hinge, unmarked, measuring 69 mm (w) x 69 mm (l) x 22 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

