Lot 346: A First World War Austro-Hungarian Imperial Karl Troop Cross (Karl-Truppenkreuz) 1916

This is an original Austro-Hungarian Karl Troop Cross (Karl-Truppenkreuz), a combat decoration established by Emperor Karl I on 13 December 1916. The medal is struck in a zinc-based alloy, commonly referred to as Kriegsmetall, which was characteristic of late-war production. The design comprises a cross pattee set within a circular laurel wreath. It is suspended from its original triangular ribbon (Dreiecksband) in red with narrow horizontal white-and-red striped edges. The obverse features the Latin inscription GRATI PRINCEPS ET PATRIA across the vertical arms and CAROLVS IMP ET REX across the horizontal arms. The reverse displays the Austrian Imperial Crown and the Hungarian Royal Crown positioned above the personal cipher C for Emperor Karl I. The horizontal arms on the reverse bear the text VITAM ET SANGVINEM, while the lower arm is dated with the Roman numerals MDCCCCXVI for 1916.