Stickpin - Pierced Wound Badge in Gold

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Anstecknadel - Verwundetenabzeichen für die Armee und Kolonialtruppen - durchbrochen - in Gold. Instituted March 3, 1918, by the Prussian King Wilhelm II and later adopted by the Bavarian King Ludwig III, the Imperial Wound Badge was awarded to those who bled for the Fatherland or lost their health to enemy action in the war zone and thus became incapable of service. The black was awarded for first or second wounds, silver third and fourth, gold fifth and subsequent. It is constructed out of a die stamped tombak base that has been gold gilded with polished highlights. The oval shaped obverse depicts an embossed M16 Imperial helmet which is above two crossed broad swords, with a “cut-out” background, surrounded by a laurel leaf and beery wreath that is tied together at the bottom with a bow tie. The hollow back reverse features a soldered-on a knurled stickpin. The face measures 7/16 of an inch wide by ½ of an inch tall. Minty and rare…