German Awards - Princely Black Cross - 3rd Class Cross with Swords

The Cross of Honor of the Schwarzburg principalities was originally established by Prince Friedrich Gunther von Schwarzburg Rudolstadt on May 20, 1853 as a reward for services to his principality. Only on June 9, 1857, this order was transferred by the two princes of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen with the corresponding statutes to the general order or house order. 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.
Crosses for Rudolstadt depicted double, mirror letters - FG - for Friedrich Gunther, and for Sondershausen - GFC - for Gunther Friedrich Karl on the back.
For merits in the war, he was awarded swords. Other expansions included jubilee numbers 50 and 60, as well as oak leaves (oak fracture) embossed appropriately with war years.

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 false oval medallion. Through the middle are crossed 2 swords. On the upper cruciform arm between the tops there is a segment with a ball eye and a tape ring.

Front side:

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

Downside:

In the
• center is a high oval silver medallion, the edging is richly decorated with ornaments.
In
• a closed field, double mirror intricate initials - F - G -
• Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Prince Friedrich Gunther, 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 - 3rd class cross with swords

Reverse: Princely Black Cross - 3rd class cross with swords

Established:

June 9, 1857 together with the princes Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Sondershausen

Awarded:

1857 – 1918
1870 with swords

Data:

• Material: silver/partially enameled, gilded
• Size: 49mm x 40mm, swords 46mm x 2mm
• Weight: 25, 2g

estimated collector price:

600 – 650 €

OEK Number:

2749