Austria Hungary WW1 Signum Laudis Military Merit Medal with Crown & Swords Silver Class Kaiser Karl 1917 1918 in Silvered Bronze Boxed

Austro-Hungarian Empire: Military Merit medal 
"Signum Laudis" with double crown (Austrian 
Empire & Kingdom of Hungary), silver (1st) 
class.
With swords, for combatants, in its box of issue.
Issued by Kaiser Karl to officers, this medal 
replaced, in 1917, the respective one of Kaiser 
Franz Joseph I.
The initial medal was established in 1886 in its 
bronze class. The silver class was introduced 
in 1911, being ever since the highest merit award 
of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
This version of the medal (with Kaiser Karl's 
head) is quite rare as it was awarded for just 2 
years (1917 and 1918).
Late example, of the final stages of the Great War, 
in silvered bronze (silver was reserved for the war 
effort so late examples were made initially in 
silvered bronze/brass and later on in silvered zinc).
By the Vienna Mint, marked "Bronze" on the rim.

FULL SIZE

WW1 1914 - 1918

Item 100% original - original ribbon and box

Condition as on the photos

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