WW1 Imperial German Iron Cross 2nd Class Full Size With Maker Mark

The WW1 Imperial German Iron Cross 2nd Class Full Size with Maker Mark is a military decoration awarded during the First World War by the German Empire. The Iron Cross 2nd Class was instituted in 1914 and given to soldiers for acts of bravery in battle as well as other military contributions. This example presents the standard full-size form, featuring a blackened iron core framed by a silver border, measuring approximately 42mm in width. The obverse bears a relief of the Prussian Crown, the initial “W” for Kaiser Wilhelm II, and the date “1914” at the base. The reverse is plain aside from the raised maker mark, which identifies the manufacturer—an important detail for collectors and historians verifying authenticity and origin. Typically awarded with a black-and-white ribbon, the Iron Cross 2nd Class was one of the most recognized German decorations of the period and remains a significant historical artifact from World War I.