Germany, Wehrmacht. A 1939 Iron Cross I Class, with Case, by Steinhauer & Lück

(Eisernes Kreuz 1939 II. Klasse mit Etui). Reinstituted 1 September 1939. (1939-1945 issue). Constructed of brass and silver, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened brass core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse with a block hinge and banjo-style pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked but demonstrating the physical characteristics of an early brass core variant produced by Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid, measuring 43.75 mm (w) x 44.11 mm (h), weighing 16.2 grams, accompanied by a mis-matched Imperial-era presentation case, constructed of a light wooden frame with a faux black leather exterior liner, the lid bearing an embossed and silvered Cross Pattée, the interior with a white satin lid liner and slotted dark navy blue velvet medal bed, unmarked, measuring 65 mm (w) x 65 mm (l) x 22 mm (h), the cross demonstrating issues consistent with age, including loss of finish to the core, bending of the nine o’clock arm which has pulled up the frame, and the etching of numbers and initials into the reverse of the frame, with additional material fatigue to the presentation case that has rendered the spring catch and stud release non-functional, in overall very fine condition.