German Awards - Silver Women's Cross for Merit 1. Imperial Crown Uniform

The silver brooch "For Merit to Women" was awarded as an honorary badge on April 25, 1892 by the Kaiser and King William II. at the insistence of his wife, he donated to Empress Augusta Victoria or approved her introduction. The badge of honor was awarded to women who distinguished themselves in the field of charity.
In February 1900, the Badge of Honor was renamed the Silver Women's Cross for Merit. Initially, the one-class award was expanded from 1902 with the Golden Cross for Services to Women. A prerequisite was a 10-year possession of the silver class. On October 22, 1907, the women's cross "For Merit" was accepted into the system of Prussian orders and approved as an order. The first lending period is indicated from 1893 to October 1907. During this period, silver brooches were awarded for merit without a ribbon, silver brooches for merit (women's crosses for merit since 1900) with a ribbon, and since 1902 - gold women's crosses for merit on a ribbon. Crosses with a ribbon had an ironing mechanism above the horizontal needle to place the ribbon decoration. A distinctive feature during this period is the women's merit cross with the imperial crown shown here. Only non-Russian women received it. All Prussian women received an honorary badge with a royal crown as the upper tip of the ring body. The second award period is counted from 1908 (after recognition as an order) until November 1916. A distinctive feature of the 1st form is the absence of a horizontal pin and the changed technique of tape decoration (there is no ironing mechanism). In addition, only crosses with the royal crown were awarded to the rods, and not to Prussian women. Crosses were made in several pieces during the first two award periods. In the last period of 1917-1918, crosses were minted whole and had a simple oval eye as a ribbon reception. The Lifetime Achievement Cross with the imperial crown is one of the rarest awards, as it was only issued during the first award period. Silver Women's Merit Cross 1. The uniform was awarded only 284 times with the royal crown on the ribbon and only 27 times with the imperial crown on the ribbon. In gold, only 4 awards with the imperial crown (with and without ribbon) are known.

Silver, openwork work cross in the shape of a medallion. The imperial crown is attached on top. At the back is a horizontal pin with mating hooks. Above the icon on the right is an ironing structure that serves to place the decoration of the ribbon under the crown. The elongated band ring is suspended from a long bridge with a small eye. A pin is located on the tape in the center on the elongated ring of the tape.

Front side:

• The medallion is formed from a wide ring with a pearl chain along the outer edge.
• The inside is beveled. Between the line outside and inside is a blue enameled font:
• Top half: - FOR - ° - MERIT - centered on the ring on either side of an 8-band leaf star.
• Lower half: blue enameled laurel branches left and right.
• Below is the letter code - A - V - of the empress, decorated and enameled with blue paint.
In
• a surrounded field, pierced by work, a cross with 3-fold figured and pointed ends.
• The bordered crosses are cross-hatched transversely and separated centrally by a diagonal cross.
• Inflorescences stylized in the corners of the sacrum. The tips of the cross and flowers touch the edge.

Downside:

• Smooth silver border with 2 ridges for fastening the crown.
• A cross of flowers lies under a hatched cross.
• On the right above the horizontal pin is an ironing mechanism up to the crests of the crown.

Tape:

30 mm wide, for female grinding 15 mm wide

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