WWI AUSTRIAN WAR MERIT CROSS 2nd CLASS BY ROTHE

Austria, Empire. A War Merit Cross, II Class For Civil Merit, By Rothe. (Kriegskreuz für Zivilverdienste II Klasse). Instituted on August 16, 1915 by Kaiser Franz Joseph. (Issued 1915-1918). A silver gilt cross with white enameled arms, the obverse with a center white enameled medallion, with “FJI” in silver gilt lettering, circumscribed by “Merito Civili Tempore Belli MCMXV” (Latin - At the merit of the Civil War), with an oak wreath on the cross; the reverse vertical pin and two horizontally oriented rivets, maker marked “FR” for “Rothe & Neffe, Wien”, as well as “AA”; measuring 44.04 mm (w) x 44.43 mm (h), weighing 28.5 grams, in overall extremely fine condition.