Awards of Germany - Badge of Honor for butterflies of 1886 (2nd performance, 1st version)

The badge of honor depicted here for butterflies with the crown of the empress is the first version with straight wings of putto and was awarded only in the imperial lands of Alsace-Lorraine. This form is generally considered the first or earlier variant and is very rare. Of the total number of awards, only about 2.3% go to badges of honor with the crown of the empress. That's about 50 pieces.
This honorific was probably presented by Empress Augusta in 1886 with the permission of her husband, the Emperor. The order of the fund or the decree on this has not yet been found. The first recognized awards took place in 1890. As a defender of the Red Cross, for 40 years of well-deserved activity, midwives (midwives) should express gratitude and recognition. Requests for this were sent by the competent local authority directly to the office of the empress and queen and decisions were made there. Efforts to unify the terms of the award resulted in 1905 in a circular of the responsible minister. There, Prussian citizenship or Alsatian-Lorraine citizenship was established as a prerequisite. Secondly, 40 years of faithful and impeccable service. Thirdly, the midwife must have a "calmly secured existence." In this case, a soft standard must be applied. It should be prevented that a wonderful grandmother subsequently lived at the expense of public care for the poor. In these cases, you should think about material assistance. There was no difference between hired and freelance midwives. The brooch could not be returned. Between 1900 and 1917, 2,074 awards were received. The brooch manufacturer is Hugo Schäper from Berlin because of the imprint in Etuideckel. The presentation received 2 different applications. The first performance had the Prussian crown of the queen on the medal. In the first version, Putto (angel) had straight wings, in the second - curved. Imperial Crown 2 was issued only in Alsace-Lorraine. It is also in 2 variants with straight wings or curved putto wings.

Round openwork brooches made of gilded silver. Crown, putto and ribbon slopes. At the back is a horizontal pin.

Front side:

In the
• center is a curved shield with a black recessed inscription: - ° - LOYALTY - SERVICES - ° -.
In
• the upper part there is a laurel wreath, in the center - the crown of the empress.
• Below along the edge is an ancient silver-plated patinated putto with straight wings.
• The lower edge of the medallion is formed by a semicircular bracket.
• On the outer edge is a circular pearl cord, interrupted in the center by 2 wreath ribbons.

Downside:

• Smooth and gilded. In a horizontal position - a pin with a hook.
• Through small eyes on the rim, 4 rivets are visible, with which stops are attached.

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