Updated:
An original Eisernes Kreuz (Iron Cross) 2nd Class is worth, as a guide price, around 55 to 165 euros today; an Eisernes Kreuz 1st Class around 100 to 600 euros — depending on the year of institution, maker and condition. Rare variants exceed this: a so-called Schinkel version of the 1939 EK2 was auctioned for 340 euros in 2025, and early one-piece EK1s reach around 600 euros. Crosses from the 1813 institution are in a league of their own and can run into five figures.
Guide Prices by Version and Condition
Guide prices based on real sale prices from German specialist dealers and auction houses (as of August 2026). With the Eisernes Kreuz, details — maker's mark, core blackening, ribbon — make a difference of hundreds of euros. Photos are enough for us to give you a concrete assessment.
| Version | Condition | Guide Price |
|---|---|---|
| EK 2nd Class 1914 | good condition, on the ribbon | 55–90 €1 |
| EK 2nd Class 1939 | good to very good condition, on the ribbon | 125–165 €2 |
| EK 2nd Class 1939, Schinkel variant | good condition | around 340 €3 |
| EK 1st Class 1914 | good condition | around 100 €4 |
| EK 1st Class 1939, standard maker | good to very good condition | 255–295 €5 |
| EK 1st Class 1939, rare variants (e.g. early one-piece Juncker, Zimmermann) | very good condition | 595–625 €6 |
| EK from the 1813 institution | depending on condition | 10.000 € and more7 |
Sources
- militaria-berlin.de (55 €) + team-militaria.de (55,90 €) + militaria-reisig.com (59,90 €) + schlender-antik.com (85–89 €), retrieved 2026-08-20
- militaria-berlin.de (verkauft 125 € ohne Hersteller; 165 € Hst. 23), retrieved 2026-08-20
- ratisbons.com (Auktionszuschlag Mai 2025: 340 €), retrieved 2026-08-20
- en.militaria-berlin.de («Crosses from World War I and II generally fetch around €100»), retrieved 2026-08-20
- ratisbons.com... (Zuschläge Feb 2021: 255 €, Jul 2022: 295 €, Ratisbon's Preisdatenbank), retrieved 2026-08-20
- militaria-berlin.de (595 €) + ratisbons.com (Zuschlag 625 €, Hst. Zimmermann), retrieved 2026-08-20
- en.militaria-berlin.de («Early pieces from 1813 can fetch €10.000 or more»), retrieved 2026-08-20
Value drivers are the original case (especially LDO cases), named award documents, rare maker's marks and untouched condition. An EK2 on its uncut award ribbon with issue packet is worth more than the bare cross.
Original or Fake?
The Eisernes Kreuz is among the most frequently reproduced decorations of all — from crude casts to the 1957 re-issue without the swastika, which is traded legally and routinely but is worth considerably less. Four things to check:
- Three-part construction. Originals consist of a blackened iron core between two frame halves of silver or silver-plated metal — the seam is visible along the edge. One-piece casts with no discernible frame are almost always replicas. Source: ratisbons.com (Beschreibungen «dreiteilige Fertigung, magnetischer Kern»), retrieved 2026-08-20
- The magnet test — read correctly. The iron core of the great majority of originals is magnetic. But be careful in both directions: there are contemporary crosses with a non-magnetic non-ferrous core (such as early one-piece Juncker production), and modern fakes with an iron core also exist. The magnet is an indicator, not a verdict. Source: militaria-berlin.de (originales, nicht magnetisches EK1), retrieved 2026-08-20
- Marks in the right place. On the EK2, the maker's mark, where present, sits in the ribbon ring (e.g. "Fr" for Gebrüder Friedländer, or "Z" — whose attribution is disputed in the literature). The 1939 EK1 comes from at least 26 makers and is either unmarked, carries an LDO number, or from late 1942 carries a Präsidialkanzlei number. A stamp in an atypical place is a warning sign. Source: ratisbons.com («mindestens 26 Herstellern... ungestempelt, mit Präsidialkanzlei Nummer (ab Ende 42/Anfang 43), oder mit LDO-Nummer»), retrieved 2026-08-20
- Core blackening and patina. The original lacquer blackening of the core ages to a matte finish and may be worn in places; the frame develops a natural patina over decades. A deep-black, glossy core in a spotless frame does not fit with 80 or 110 years of history.
Brief Historical Background
The Eisernes Kreuz was instituted in Prussia in 1813 and renewed for the wars of 1870/71, 1914 and 1939. The year of institution appears on the lower arm of the cross on the obverse; the 1939 version bears the swastika at the centre, earlier versions a monogram and oak leaves.
It was awarded in grades: the 2nd Class on a ribbon, the 1st Class as a pin-back cross with pin or screw plate. Both were issued in very large numbers — which is why an EK2 is an affordable collector's piece today, while value rises for rarer variants, early institutions and documented awards.
On the legal position, in two sentences: trading in original Eisernes Kreuz pieces is legal in Germany, including the 1939 version. The public display of the swastika is governed by § 86a of the German Criminal Code (§ 86a StGB) — which is why we do not display such pieces publicly and handle valuation and documentation privately.
Sell Without Risk
Antique Militaria is a Spanish collectors' house buying throughout Germany. We buy for our own collection — with no dealer mark-up. Because we don't price for resale, the margin that a middleman would otherwise take stays with you.
The process is deliberately simple: you send photos of the front and back (for the EK2, please also the ribbon ring) via WhatsApp to +34 665 164 779. Within 24 hours you receive our free assessment of authenticity and price. If you agree, we pay cash in hand, at the agreed price. We collect whole collections and Nachlässe (estates) in person, anywhere in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Eisernes Kreuz Is Valuable?
The earlier and rarer, the more valuable: crosses from the 1813 and 1870 institutions stand far above those from 1914 and 1939. Within a given year, rare makers and variants (Schinkel form, early one-piece production), cases and documents drive up the price.
How Do I Recognise a Genuine Eisernes Kreuz?
By the three-part construction with a visible frame seam, the (usually) magnetic iron core, correct marks in the ribbon ring or on the reverse, and consistent ageing. No single feature is enough on its own — we always assess the overall picture and tell you the result free of charge.
Is It Permitted to Wear an Eisernes Kreuz?
The 1939 version bearing the swastika may not be worn or displayed publicly (§ 86a StGB). This restriction does not apply to the versions from 1813 to 1914 or to the 1957 version without the swastika. Possession and sale are legal in all cases.
What Do You Get for an Eisernes Kreuz?
As a guide: 55 to 90 euros for an EK2 from 1914, 125 to 165 euros for an EK2 from 1939, from around 100 euros for an EK1 — rare variants considerably more. We will give you the concrete price for your piece after reviewing photos, within 24 hours.
My Cross Has No Swastika, but the Year 1939 — What Is That?
Most likely a version made under the 1957 Orders Act, in which the swastika was replaced with oak leaves. These pieces are original and collectible, but priced below the contemporary crosses.
More guide values: Mother's Cross · Knight's Cross · German Cross in Gold · War Merit Cross · Wound Badge · Second World War decorations · East German decorations
