Non-Combatant - Imperial 2nd Class Iron Cross by S-W

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German Empire, WWI - Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1914 im weißen Band für Nichtkombattanten by S-W - Sy-Wagner of Berlin. Reinstituted August 5, 1914, by Emperor Wilhelm II, as the third endowment, the 2nd Class Iron Cross was awarded to personnel who had performed a single meritorious act of bravery in combat, and with a white ribbon if it is not in combat. In WWI, 13,000 Iron Crosses with white ribbons were awarded to non-combatants and 5 million for combatants. From March 16, 1915, the Iron Cross could also be awarded to members of the states allied with Germany. It is a multi-piece, die struck construction that has been soldered together. The single piece core is constructed out of an iron metal base that has been black enamel painted. The frame and back plate are constructed out of a nickel-silver base. A final protectant lacquer was applied over the entire award. The obverse features a pattée style cross that has a centrally placed embossed “W” (cypher of King Wilhelm I & II), below the royal crown of Prussia (top arm) and above “1914” (lower arm), which is on a black base and surrounded by a silvered ribbed/beaded row and a flat outlying border. The reverse shows a centrally placed three-piece oak leaf and acorn cluster, below “FW” (cypher for King Friedrich Wilhelm III) and a Kings crown and is above “1813”, and is all surrounded by that same border. To the top is a lug, loop and ring that is marked: “S-W” (double struck), which holds 6 ¾ inches of white and black post-war replacement, ribbon. The award measures 1 11/6 inches wide and tall. A rarer variation!