Awards of Germany - Commemorative sign to Duchess widow Friederike

This commemorative sign was donated by the Duchess widow Friederike of Anhalt-Bernburg on October 9, 1901. 90th anniversary of the birth of the widow of the duchess. Permission for the foundation was given by Duke Frederick I of Anhalt-Dessau. The Duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg after the death of Duke Alexander Karl in 1863 was merged with the Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau. The Duchess of Friederike, Caroline, Juliane was a born princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg before they married in 1834 Duke Alexander Karl von Anhalt-Bernburg. From 1855 to 1863, she took over the administration of the duchy because the duke had schizophrenia and resigned. As a result of the transfer of the fund, the badge of honor became a state award. King William II. Prussia subsequently gave permission for trade. The badge of honor was made by the jeweler and court supplier Otto Ackermann in Dessau. It was presented on the occasion of the celebration of the birthday of close people and relatives and officials of their court state. In total, only 130 honorary badges were awarded. In 1902, 2 more transfers were made to the princesses Hilde and Antoinette-Anna of Anhalt. After the death of the widow of the Duchess on July 10, 1902, the awards ended. The badge of honor was not subject to return. Source: Nemmergut, German Orders and insignia until 1945, Volume 1, Hessenthal and Schreiber, Portable insignia of the German Empire...

Openwork badge of honor made of gilded silver. The edge is formed from a dense oak-leaved wreath. Above is a tightly connected 5-arc, openwork crown. A ribbon ring passes through the imperial crown apple.

Front side:

In
• the openwork midfield is soldered floral-ornamented and winding in itself code - F - C - J - (the first names of the widow of the Duchess: Frederica, Carolina, Juliana)
• Under the cipher, the openwork number is 90 - to the edge.
• On the oak wreath on the left, the year increases - 1811 -.
• Below on the wreath is the date - October 9 - (in writing).
• On the right on the oak wreath year - 1901 -.

Downside:

• The oak wreath and crown are plastic.
• The cipher on the reverse is smooth.

Tape:

35mm green, 4mm silver side stripes, 1mm edge

Photo: Private collection of Maximilian Ferdinand Leopold Prince of Anhalt

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