Imperial German Commemorative Pin with Portraits of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiser Franz Joseph

This is a fine Imperial German commemorative pin featuring the conjoined busts of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Kaiser Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary, executed in relief. The portraits are framed at the base with painted colors of the German and Austrian national flags, intertwined with laurel branches to symbolize unity and military alliance. The detail captures Wilhelm II with his recognizable pointed moustache and Franz Joseph with his bald head and full beard.

The pin measures approximately 2.5 cm in diameter and is constructed of pressed metal with a silvered finish. The reverse shows a simple horizontal pin-back fastener, common to period patriotic and commemorative badges. The design and subject matter strongly suggest that this piece was produced to celebrate the German–Austrian alliance during the First World War (1914–1918).

These pins were often worn by civilians, military family members, and veterans to show loyalty to the Central Powers, and were sold at patriotic events, war rallies, and fundraising campaigns. The dual portrait motif underscores the personal bond between Wilhelm II and Franz Joseph, rulers of the allied empires until the latter’s death in 1916.

Condition: The obverse shows minor surface wear with traces of the original painted tricolor still visible. Relief detail on the portraits remains sharp and clear. Reverse pin mechanism is intact and functional.