Awards of Germany - Gold Medal "For Military Merit" 1892

The Military Merit Medal was first established on May 30, 1794 by Duke Ludwig Eugene in silver. In 1800, it was supplemented by a gold medal, which was awarded only to officers for exceptional services. In 1806, King Frederick I redid the medals and changed the rules for awarding. Now it was also possible to award non-commissioned officers with the gold medal "For Military Merit." These medals were minted in different versions and have 5 different types of eyes. Medals were awarded to Schiffre - FR - from 1806 to 1818. Under the reign of King William I on 23 September 1818, the statutes were changed and the medals were attached to the Order of Military Merit. Medals now carried a portrait of the king on the obverse, paraphrased along the edge. They were awarded in 2 versions from 1818 to 1864. Under King Charles, the facades were changed. From 1864 to 1892 he wore a portrait of King Charles. The Military Merit Medal was awarded from 1892 with the image of William II. awarded. The Stempelschneider was Karl Schwenzer in Stuttgart.
Gold medals were made with an ordinary ear. As the shortage of precious metals became greater and greater during the World War, the latter parts were made with less gold. The gold content was 14 carats, and during the war it was reduced to 8 carats. The medal was awarded for great bravery. Thus, officer ranks could receive this award only if before that they had already been awarded the Iron Cross of the 1st class. The gold medal "For Military Merit" was later awarded to the Knight's Cross of the 2nd class with swords of the Order of Frederick. The number of awards is about 4200 in various gold contents. Gilded medals were made only as private overprints. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen before 1945, vol. IV, 2001.

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

Front side:

In the
• center is a right-facing portrait of William II.
• On the margins there is an inscription: - WILHELM - II - KOENIG - VON - WÜTTEMBERG -
• Below there are 5 petal sockets, in the cervical area there are small ones - K. SCHWENZER -

Downside:

• Central 3-line inscription: - FOR - VALOR - AND FIDELITY -
• Along the edge are two laurel branches, tied at the bottom with a double loop.

Tape:

• yellow 35 mm, edges 1 mm, side stripes black 6 mm.

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