Austria, Imperial. A Military Merit Cross, III Class with Swords, by Vincent Mayer, c.1914

(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) with the letters on a silver bar in two lines, the reverse with white enamelled arms and silver center engraved in script “HR3 Huolik H[unknown] 1915”, marked on the integral suspension ring with VM maker mark denoting manufacture by Vincent Mayer and Sohne and silver dianakopf denoting Austro-Hungarian manufacture between 1872-1922, suspended from its period original tri-fold ribbon bearing crossed sword device, measures 30.9 mm (w) x 34.4 mm (h), weighs 16.1 grams including ribbon, discolouration to ribbon, dark patina, light wear, near extremely fine condition.