Imperial 2nd Class Iron Cross by ED

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Imperial Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1914 by “ED”. The Iron Cross was reauthorized by Emperor Wilhelm II on August 5, 1914, and was award to personnel who performed a single act of bravery in combat. 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 is constructed out of a nickel-silver base that has been silver washed. 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 - reinstitution date of the Iron Cross), which is all on a black base and surrounded by a silvered ribbed/beaded row and a flat outlying border. The reverse shows, from top to bottom; the royal crown of Prussia, “FW” (cypher of King Friedrich Wilhelm III), a centrally placed three-piece oak leaf and acorn cluster and “1813” (lower arm - original creation date of the Iron Cross) to the bottom, which is all surrounded by that same border. To the top is a soldered-on loop and ring marked “ED”, which holds 3 1/4 inches of WWII era replacement ribbon. It looks to have been lightly cleaned. The award measures 1 11/16 inches wide and tall. A rarer maker, missing from most lists.