Germany Awards - Gold Medal for 50 Years of Loyalty to Service (Anhalt-Bernburg)

This award was established in 1835 by Duke Alexius' successor, Duke Alexander Charles.
The fund was conceived as early as 1825, but was not implemented during the Duke's reign. The court and civil servants of the duchy were awarded after 50 years of faithful and impeccable service. No special service rank was prescribed. However, gold medals were awarded only until 1843. The stamp was made by the jeweler Brosenius from Quedlinburg. The manufacturer was D. Loos & Sohn in Berlin. After 1843, medals were also minted in bronze and gilded. Gold medals went only to high-ranking ministers and ministers of the church. The medals had a wide ironing lug or, like this, a conventional band-ring lug. After joining Anhalt-Dessau-Köthen in 1863, the award in this form was discontinued. However, medals for 50 years of official fidelity continued to be awarded in a form modified for the entire duchy. Due to the short award period and 50 years of service, these medals are extremely rare. Sources indicate only 7 gold awards.

Round gold medal with raised border. Above is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• Below along the edge to the middle below, 2 laurel branches with fruits intersect.
In the
• center is an old ornamented font of the letter: - A. - F. - S. -.
• The letters mean Alexy - Friedrich - Christian, the name of the former duke.
• A large ducal crown hovers above the letter.

Downside:

• Below along the edge to the middle 2 below crossed oak-deciduous branches with acorns.
• There is a horizontal line between the branches below.
In the overlying
• field, 3-line old font - For -/- fifty-year-olds -/- Official fidelity -.

Tape:

34 mm, dark green, edges 2 mm, white side stripes 6.5 mm.

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