Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

New Zealand Cross, in silver and gold, engraved, ‘Specimen’ in upper reverse centre, with gold buckle brooch bar, minor die flaw to gold laurel spray on suspension bar, extremely fine and rare £1,800-£2,200

Provenance: Fred Rockwood Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 2014.

In terms of quality, the above described specimen compares favourably with the two New Zealand Crosses authorised in 1914 by the Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, and struck by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, London - one of which resides in the Otago Museum, Dunedin, and the other in a private collection. Only 23 New Zealand Crosses were awarded and only 13 official specimens have been authorised up to the present day. It is believed that this particular specimen was struck by the authorised firm of Mayer and Kean in the 1950s.