German Awards - Princely Schwarzburg Cross of Honor - 3rd Class Cross

Shown here 3. The Cross of Honor class has always been an entry-level class and a prerequisite for the upper classes. Size and weight vary by manufacturer. The first crosses were made by Godet in Berlin. From 1880 to 1900, production was carried out by Hugo Boer from Sondershausen. The gold and silver worker Wilhelm Freibote took over until 1902, before the court jeweler Karl Schüle became a manufacturer until 1918. Early crosses had gold medallions, later gilded only silver. Initially, on May 20, 1853, Prince Friedrich Gunther von Schwarzburg donated Rudolstadt as a reward for his service to his principality. The order initially consisted of 3 classes, and in 1873 was expanded to the 4th class. This order is also accompanied by gold and silver medals for merit. The 1st and 2nd classes of the order are made of gold or gilded silver and have white enameled cross arms. 3rd and 4th grades are made of silver, and 3rd grade has gilded and enameled middle marks. The crosses of the two principalities are distinguished by posterior medallions. Crosses for Rudolstadt depicted double, mirror letters - FG - for Friedrich Gunther, and for Sondershausen - GFC - for Gunther Friedrich Karl on the back. War-induced 1870/71 swords were donated to the first 3 classes. Servicemen from the sergeant major below received the Silver Medal. The 4th class was awarded swords only on the occasion of the First World War. The provisions were changed at 21.8.1914. When awarded military decoration, previously awarded peaceful decorations of the same class were to be removed. Later, a higher class of peace decoration was assigned, both classes continued to be worn. Other expansions included jubilee numbers 50 and 60, and an oak fracture (foliage) with a corresponding wartime imprint. In 1901, a crown (princely hat) was donated for the 1st class. 3rd class without swords was graduated only about 70 times.

An eight-pointed cross made of silver with polished edges. The inner sides of the cruciform sleeves are fine-grained. Front and back sides with embossed, gilded and enameled, oval medallion. On the upper cruciform shoulder between the tips is an ornamented agrath with a tuberous ear, through which a ribbon ring passes.

Front side:

In the
• center is a high oval gilded medallion, the edging is richly decorated with ornaments.
In
• a closed dark blue enameled field, a black-Boer lion walking to the left
with
• princely crown on the head.

Downside:

In the
• center is a high oval gilded medallion, the edging is richly decorated with ornaments.
In
• the enclosed dark blue enameled field, the laced initials are G - F - C -
• (Prince Gunther Friedrich Karl) above him the princely crown.

Tape:

• golden yellow 30 mm wide, blue edge stripes 4 mm, blue central stripes 4 mm.

.

Obverse: Princely Black Cross of Honor - 3rd Class Cross

Reverse: Princely Black Cross of Honour - 3rd Class Cross

Established:

May 28, 1857 (Sondershausen) together with the princes Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Sondershausen

Awarded:

1857 – 1918

Data:

• Material: silver, silver with gold coating, enamel
• Size: 49mm x 39mm
• Weight: 21.6g

estimated collector price:

450 – 500 €

OEK Number:

2784