Oval bronze medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a central white enamel escutcheon bearing a gilt-edged red enamel Greek (Geneva) cross supported by two angels, a radiant five-pointed star above, inscribed ‘PATRIAE AC HUMANITATE’ (Fatherland and Humanity) below; the reverse with the dates ‘1864’ and ‘1914’ within a beaded border; the enamel is intact but much of the surface of the white enamel appears rough under magnification, suggesting wera or over-zealourscleaning.; on original ribbon, lacking ribbed suspension ring. The Austrian Red Cross was founded in 1864 and the merit awards were created to mark the 50th anniversary in 1914. With the outbreak of war at the end of July 1914, a war decoration, being a green enamel wreath, was added to the medal cross and it was awarded in this form until 1919. The Award is therefore rare without the war decoration, having been issued for only a very few months.
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