Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, III Class

(Militärverdienstkreuz). Instituted on October 24th, 1849. Type II (1914-1918 Issue). A Military Merit Cross III Class, of multi-piece construction, in silver with red and white enamels,  consisting of a Cross Pattée with red and white enamelled arms, with gilded laurel leaves in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a central white enamelled medallion inscribed with “VERDIENST” (Merit), the reverse with white enamelled arms and a white enamelled center medallion, measures 30.6 mm (w) x 34.6 mm (h), weighs 15.79 grams, , connected via a double barrelled loop for suspension from its period original tri-fold ribbon, marked with an Austrian silver mark denoting Vienna manufacture and silver fineness, marked with a partial maker mark, both on the suspension ring, enamel chip to obverse medallion, gilt loss to obverse, residue around medallion and on arms, a lovely decoration in near very fine condition.