Germany, Empire. A Prussian Medal Bar with Seven Awards to a Veteran of Multiple Campaigns, c. 1905

A Prussian medal bar with seven awards, consisting of:

1. An Iron Cross 1870 with 25 Year Jubilee Oak Leaves (Eisernes Kreuz 1870 mit 25 Jahr-Jubiläums-Spange). Instituted March 17th, 1813 and reinstituted July 19th, 1870 by King Wilhelm I. Constructed of iron and silver, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial “W”, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1870”, the twelve o’clock arm with a royal crown, the reverse with three central oak leaves, the six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, the twelve o’clock arm with initials “FW” topped by a royal crown, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid, c. 1905, measuring 42.4 mm (w) x 42.1 mm (l), mounted to the medal bar using its period-original combatant’s ribbon and featuring a 25 Year Jubilee Oak Leaf attachment. 

2. A 25-Year Long Service Cross. (Dienstauszeichnung für Offiziere für 25 Dienstjahre). Instituted in 1825. Constructed of gilt bronze, consisting of a Cross Pattée with straight pebbled arms, the obverse with a central crowned Royal Monogram of Friedrich Wilhelm I, the reverse with a central “XXV” for 25-Years of Service, on a fixed loop for suspension from its period original cornflower blue ribbon, unmarked, measuring 39.5 mm (w) x 39.3 mm (l). 

3. A Duppel Storm Cross. (Düppeler Sturmkreuz). Instituted October 18th, 1864. Constructed of bronze, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a laurel wreath in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a central leftward facing bust of King Wilhelm I, circumscribed by his name and title, the reverse with a central crowned Prussian eagle leaning on a captured cannon, the arms inscribed “Düppel 18. April 1864”, measuring 32.2 mm (w) x 32.2 mm (l), mounted from a fixed loop for suspension from its period-original combatant’s ribbon.

4. A War Commemorative Medal of 1870-1871. (Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870-1871). Instituted May 20th, 1871. A bronze circular medal, constructed of captured bronze cannon barrels, the obverse depicting the crowned Royal cypher of William I over the inscription “Dem siegreichen Heere” (To the victorious army, inscribed around the edge “Gott war mit Uns, Ihm sei die Ehre” (God was with us, to Him be the glory), the reverse depicting a Cross Pattée with rays emanating from the center in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, with a central laurel wreath encircling the dates “1914” and “1918”, the edge is stamped “Aus Erobertem Geschuetz” (from captured cannons), otherwise unmarked, measuring 29.0 mm in diameter, mounted from a fixed loop for suspension from its period-original ribbon featuring a “Weissenburg” and “Paris” combat clasp.

5. A Königgrätz Commemorative Cross. Instituted September 20th, 1866. A Cross Pattée, constructed of captured bronze cannon barrels, the obverse with a central crowned Prussian eagle leaning against a captured Austrian cannon, with the arms of the cross inscribed “Königgrätz den 3 Juli 1866” along with a laurel wreath in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the reverse depicting the central crowned cypher of King Wilhelm I, circumscribed “Preussens Siegreichen Heere” (Prussia’s Victorious Army), with the arms of the cross depicting a Prussian royal crown on the top arm, with the other three arms inscribed “Gott war mit uns Ihm sei die Ehre” (God was with us, to Him be the glory), unmarked, measuring 34.3 mm (w) x 34.3 mm (l), mounted from a fixed loop for suspension from its period-original ribbon.

6. A Commemorative Medal for 1864. (Kriegsdenkmünze für 1864). A round circular bronze medal, the obverse with the dual crowned cyphers of King Wilhelm I of Prussia and Kaiser Franz Joseph of Austria, the reverse inscribed “Aus Erobertem Geschuetz” (from captured cannons), otherwise unmarked, measuring 29.1 mm in diameter, mounted from a fixed loop for suspension from its period-original ribbon.

7. A Prussian Centenary Medal (Kaiser Wilhelm Erinnerungsmedaille Zentenarmedaille). Instituted March 22nd, 1897. A circular gilded bronze medal, the obverse depicting the rightward facing bust of King William I, inscribed “Wilhelm der grosse Deutscher Kaiser, Koenig von Preussen” (Wilhelm the great Germain Kaiser, King of Prussia) in capitalized letters, the reverse depicts a German State Crown, an orb, sword, and scepter placed upon a pillow surrounded by oak leaves, inscribed “Zum andenken an den hundertsten Geburtstag des grossen Kaisers Wilhelm I, 22. Maerz 1797-1897” (in memory of the hundredth birthday of the great emperor Wilhelm I” in capitalized letters, unmarked, measuring 38.9 mm in diameter, mounted from a fixed loop for suspension from its period-original ribbon.

All medals are mounted to the medal bar using their period-original ribbon, the medal bar with a zinc core, a red wool backer, and a functional horizontal pinback, measuring approximately 185 mm (w) x 72 mm (l).