Germany – Imperial States – Anhalt – Friedrich Cross 1st Class 1914-1918 in bronze.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
The Cross was created by Duke Friedrich II on the 12th December 1914 – for officers, military officials, non-commissioned officers and other ranks, as well as other persons, without regard for rank or status, who showed particular excellence in the theatre of war or exemplary conduct on the home front in support of the war.
The Cross existed in a single class suspended from a ribbon but Duke Friedrich had the intention to follow the pattern of most other German states and introduce a first class award with a pin-back insignia. This was produced by Paul Meybauer of Berlin but it was never officially instituted nor were, the insignia awarded because the November revolutions of 1918 intervened. The provenance and status of the pin-back is thus somewhat anomalous.
