German Awards - 1834 Silver Medal of Merit

The medals were donated in 1834 by Grand Duke Karl Friedrich. It has been awarded since September 1834 for the merits of all kinds of persons without taking into account the rank or position. 6 years after taking office, the Grand Duke instituted new medals to replace the previously awarded "MERITIS NOBILIS" and "DOCTARUM FRONTIUM PRAEMIA" medals. The Medal of Merit was awarded in gold, silver and bronze.
Medals were minted at the Royal Mint in Dresden. The stamp was made by the coin engraver Friedrich Anton König, who worked at the mint since 1830. The model for the front side was the bust of Karl Friedrich, created by Angelica Facius. The daughter of Friedrich Wilhelm Facius, a court medalist since 1829 and a professor in Weimar since 1840, was a student of the sculptor Rauch. The exact dates of the award are unknown to me. A total of 20 gold medals were minted. The silver medal "For Merit" had a circulation of 50 copies, and the bronze medal "For Merit" was minted 100 times. However, it is known that not all medals were awarded. The remaining stock was melted down in 1857.

Round silver medal with raised border. Above is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

In the
• center is a portrait of Grand Duke Karl Friedrich.
• Along the edge is the inscription: - CARL - FRIEDRICH - GROssHERZOG - ZU - SACHSEN -.
In
• the cervical region, the letters - AF - are in Angelica Facius.

Downside:

A
• short distance from the edge is a dense oak-deciduous wreath of 9 groups of leaves on the left and right.
• Leaf groups consist of 5 leaves. Above 1 sheet of the side tier 2 more.
• The wreath is tied above and below with a wide ribbon.
• In the included field, 2-line, raised font: - DEM -/- MERIT -.

Tape:

Width 37 mm, side stripes green/yellow 5 mm each, central stripes black 16 mm.

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