WW1 Imperial Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Medal With Swords Full Size In Case

The WW1 Imperial Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Medal with Swords (Signum Laudis) is a full-size decoration awarded to military personnel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the First World War. Instituted in 1890 by Emperor Franz Joseph I, the Military Merit Medal recognized acts of bravery or exceptional merit by both officers and non-commissioned officers. The version with swords, introduced in 1916, signifies that the award was granted for distinguished service in combat. This example is composed of silvered bronze, featuring the obverse with the portrait of Emperor Franz Joseph I, surrounded by a Latin inscription. The reverse displays the imperial coat of arms. The attached crossed swords above the medal denote the wartime merit. It is presented with its original ribbon and housed in a fitted case of issue, typically lined with velvet or felt. This decoration represents an important piece of Austro-Hungarian military history from the Great War era.