Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class, with Swords and Case, by Kerbach & Österhelt

(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse with pebbled arms, bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a raised barrel hinge and banjo-style pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the reverse of the pinback maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “62” for Kerbach & Österheld, Dresden, measuring 48.53 mm (w) x 48.44 mm (h), weighing 26.3 grams, accompanied by its original presentation case, constructed of a heavy card stock frame with a faux black leather exterior liner, the lid bearing an embossed and silvered depiction of the award, the interior with a white rayon lid liner and intact hinge cover, with a slotted black felt medal bed, unmarked, measuring 70 mm (w) x 70 mm (l) x 20 mm (h), minor loss of finish is evident to the base metal of the award and some scratching is visible to the reverse of the three o’clock arm, with moderate material fatigue visible to the exterior of the case, in overall very fine condition.