Austria, Empire. A Military Merit Cross, First Period (One Class), Type II with War Decoration Republic of reverse Verdienst Ums Vaterland with

reverse Verdienst Ums Vaterland with laurel surround

VII” in raised gilt letters

the end bears a flat chain stopper with ornate detailing

with a silver gilt figure of Charity on a red and blue enameled background

reaching Crimea in the summer

Austria, Empire. A Military Merit Cross, First Period (One Class), Type II with War Decoration Republic of reverse Verdienst Ums Vaterland with(Militrverdienstkreuz). Instituted October 24th, 1849. First Period (One Class) 1849 1914 Issue. Type II. (c. 1850s issue). An early and extremely well preserved example of this award, of multi piece construction, in silver with red and white enamels, on a fixed ring and swivel loop for suspension from its period original tri fold ribbon, consisting of a Cross Patte with red and white enameled arms, with gilded laurel leaves in the quadrants between