Austria, First Republic. A Honour Decoration of the Red Cross, Officer’s Cross, c.1923

An extremely well preserved “Ehrenkreuz vom Roten Kreuz Offizierkreuz”; a silver latin cross (marked “935” for silver content on the reverse) with red, white, and green enamels; the obverse with a central white enameled medallion depicting a red cross, surrounded by a ring of red enamels inscribed “Patriae ac Humanitati” (Latin - Country and Humanity), with silver sun rays emanating from the core of the cross, and with two laurel bushels superimposed onto the cross in a “V” formation; the reverse with a central white enameled medallion, inscribed “1923”, surrounded by red enamels; vertical pinback with a banjo style pin (marked with “1W” and the head of the hoopoe bird, and maker marked “FR” for “C. F. Rothe & Neffe, Vienna”), with a barrel hinge and a broad catch - also marked “VII” twice underneath the hinge - the catch also marked with “1W” and the head of the hoopoe bird twice, as well as “935”; measuring 48.14 mm (w) x 57.36 mm (h); weighing 34.4 grams; the green enamels on the laurel bushels mostly lost through time, but the enamels on the cross extremely well preserved; in overall better than extremely fine condition.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.