Germany - Imperial: The rare Iron Cross 1870, 2nd Class, a rare Prinzen size example, comprising a silver frame and iron centre, not ring stamped, with the extremely rare Prinzen size 25th Anniversary Jubiläumsspange Oakleaves device, this probably in silver and of hollow construction with two prongs to reverse which are attached to the ribbon,
Condition: some wear to paintwork particularly to the obverse, Very Fine
King Wilhelm I of Prussia reinstituted the award on 19th July 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War. Recipients of the 1870 Iron Cross who were still in service in 1895 were authorised to purchase and wear above the cross a Jubiläumsspange ( Jubilee clip ), a 25-year clasp consisting of the numerals 25 on three oak leaves, and those who were still alive in 1914 were entitled to add the special 1914 Bar (Spange).
Prinzengrosse decorations or prinzens, as they are generally called, are 2/3 reduction versions of the Iron Crosses 1st and 2nd Class. It is assumed the name was derived from the use made of reduced sized orders given to all young princes of the Prussian Royal Family. Prussian Princess received the rank and uniform of a Leutnant on their 10th birthdays together with a reduced size Breast Star of the Order of the Black Eagle. From 1810, they also received the 3rd Class of the Order of the Red Eagle worm on the Breast Sash and at a later date the 4th Class of the Order of the Crown. They received the 2/3 reduction sizes because they were small boys. The Royal Princes of 1813-14 who were awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class received full sized pieces. They did, however, wear reduced sized versions of the Iron Cross 2nd Class on the medal bar like all officers of the Biedermier time. Prinzen crosses are found in the 1813, 1870, 1914 and 1939 series of Iron Crosses; they would have been made by regular authorised manufacturers, are of three part construction and look, in fact, just like the full-sized original cross.
The Iron Cross 1st Class and the Iron Cross 2nd Class were awarded without regard to rank. One had to possess the 2nd Class already in order to receive the 1st Class (though in some cases both could be awarded simultaneously). The egalitarian nature of this award contrasted with those of most other German states (and indeed of many other European monarchies), where military decorations were awarded based on the rank of the recipient. For example, Bavarian officers received various grades of that Kingdom’s Military Merit Order (Militär-Verdienstorden), while enlisted men received various grades of the Military Merit Cross (Militär-Verdienstkreuz). Prussia did have other orders and medals which it awarded on the basis of rank, and even though the Iron Cross was intended to be awarded without regard to rank, officers and NCOs were more likely to receive it than junior enlisted soldiers.
