Austrian Order of the Iron Crown in Gold

[Christopher G.]

Hello,

I have been offered this Order of the Iron Crown and would like some expertise on it as these are really way out of my league. It appears to have all the right markings from the little research I have done. It is marked with an "FR" and a Gemsenkopf mark for 18k gold. There also appears to be some kind of Iron in the crown at the bottom which I am assuming is so that the crown isnt crushed and there is also one in the ribbon ring.

Im not sure what makes one a 2nd class or a 3rd class as they all seem to be very similar. I was hoping someone can tell me if this is a true 2nd class or a 3rd class in a 2nd class case?

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated as well as opinions.

Austrian Order of the Iron Crown in Gold; 2nd Class by Rothe, Wien

Thank you in advance!

Regards,
Chris G.

[Christopher G.]

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[Christopher G.]

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[Christian J]

Height?

[Brian L.]

The piece of iron inside the crown is symbolic of the iron circlet (supposedly made from one of Jesus' crucifixion nails) used to hold together the six plates of gold that made up the original "Iron Crown" of Lombardy of Queen Theodelinda of the Lombards.

[Christopher G.]

Height?

Hello Christian,

it is roughly 65.20mm high by 33.40mm wide...which from a few others I have seen puts it in the 2nd class dimensions.

Regards,
Chris G.

[Christian J]

Hello Christian,

it is roughly 65.20mm high by 33.40mm wide...which from a few others I have seen puts it in the 2nd class dimensions.

Regards,
Chris G.

Hi Chris,

Yes, that's my understanding as well.

[Christian J]

Here is one I posted that I first thought to be a 2nd class but later realized were a 1st class.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ght=iron+crown

[Don D.]

Beautiful award. Underrated by collectors imho.

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

the hereby posted piece, is a fine, 2nd Class decoration of the Order of the Iron Crown, of a type awarded between 1880 and 1914.

Well-visible, are the marks of Rothe & Neffe ("F.R" in a lozenge) and the "Gemsenkopf-Punze" (Gold guarantee mark), struck on the suspension ring and the crown's pendalia.

Curious, is the element inserted in the ribbon-ring...

A plus, is the original case of issue, also bearing the gold-embossed mark of Rothe, Vienna. The missing, neck ribbon, can be found, although not very easily.

Congratulations for the beautiful find!

E.L.