Awards of Germany - Silver Medal "For Merit" Karl Alexander 1870

The 1870 Silver Medal of Merit was instituted by Grand Duke Charles Alexander in 1870. He was awarded a medal for services during the war of 1870-1871, the war against France. For services to the enemy on September 22, 1870, Shpazhnik was awarded the medal, which was raised on a ribbon. The silver point of the sword consisted of a rectangular frame, on which 2 crossed swords with Roman parrying poles were placed. In the lower part in the center there was a small eye, which was inserted into the eye of the medal. For fastening, 2 long plug-in hooks on the back of the screed were used. Medals on swords were awarded much more often than medals without swords. On the swords indicated 831 awards. Excluding the screed, only 68 awards took place. The coin is minted by Professor Ferdinand Helfricht (1809-1892), who since 1832 was the court engraver of the mint in Gotha.
In 1892, several medals with the old image of Karl Alexander were minted, which were used as spare parts for lost items. The small eyes on the swords could not support the weight of the medal. These medals are extremely rare.
Medals of Merit with the inscription "For Merit" were first established under the Grand Duke Karl Friedrich. They replaced medals inscribed -MERITIS NOBILIS and -DOCTARVM FRONTIVM PRAEMIA.

Silver medal with raised border. Above is a soldered transverse eye with a band ring.

Front side:

In the
• center is a portrait of the Grand Duke with a younger head.
• Along the edge is the inscription: - KARL - ALEXANDER - GRAND DUKE - VON - SAXONY -.
• At the bottom there is a small cutter stamp along the edge - HELFRICHT F.-.

Downside:

• At a short distance from the edge is a dense, cross-linked oak-deciduous wreath above and below.
In
• a closed, smooth field, a 3-line raised font: - DEM -/- MERIT -/- 1870 -.

Tape:

Width 39 mm, side stripes green/yellow 5 mm each, central stripes black 19 mm.

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