German Awards - Service Award - Buckle for 15 years 1888

Duke Ernst II. Established on February 28, 1846 service awards for the Duchy of Saxony Coburg-Gotha. After 25 years of service, officers received a silver cross with gold middle shields. The award for service to non-commissioned officers and soldiers was in the form of a buckle and was awarded in 3 stages. After 21 years of service, 15 years of service and 9 years of service. This division persisted until 1913. Since 1846, buckles have been made in 2 forms and bear the letter - E - for Ernst. The first form without lateral oak branches was granted until 1888. From 1888 to 1894, side oak foliage buckles were awarded. After the coming to power of Duke Alfred, in 1894, the buckles were provided with the code - A. The 4th and last form of buckles was introduced by Crown Prince Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg as the guardian of the minor Duke Karl Edward of 14.06.1901. The loan terms were retained. The cipher changed to - C E - for Carl Edward. For 21 years of faithful and groundless service, the buckle was gilded, for 15 years the buckle was made of silver-plated white metal, and for 9 years of service a blackened bronze buckle with a silver frame appeared. The awards were presented on the Duke's birthday on 19 July. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen until 1945, vol. III, 1999.

Rectangular buckle made of silver-plated white metal. It is applied to a metal plate connected to the tape. The tape is sewn up at the back. On the back is a horizontal pin.

Front side:

• Silver-plated buckle with a raised edge, the substrate is finely shaded transversely.
In the
• center is the crowned letter - E -. To the side of it is one oak branch.
• They go from the bottom center next to E to the top corners on the left and right, respectively.

Downside:

• The ribbon of the order is sewn up. In a horizontal position - a pin.

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