German Awards - Order of Albrecht Bear Gold Medal of Merit

The Gold Medal of Merit was awarded along with the House Order of Albrecht the Bear on 18 November 1836 by the Dukes Heinrich of Anhalt-Köthen, Alexander-Karl of Anhalt-Bernburg and Leopold IV. donated by Anhalt-Dessau. It was awarded as a reward for loyalty and devotion, talents and legitimate service activities. The Order of the House consisted of the following classes: Grand Cross, Commander, Knight, Gold and Silver Medal of Merit. In 1875, the Order of Merit for Science and Art was annexed to the Home Order. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the birth of Duke Frederick I on April 29, 1901, a golden crown was established for the Grand Cross, commanders and knights of the 1st rank. Class as well as crown in silver for Knights 2. Class created. Commanders were henceforth called komturs.
The first gold medals for merit were still made of gold and weighed 13.6 g. Since 1860, they began to be made of bronze. On July 18, 1864, the Order of Military Merit was established. They were gilded on both silver and gold bronze medals. On August 19, 1904, Duke Frederick II. the crown was granted for special merits to medals.

Round medal made of gilded bronze with a raised border. Above is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• Along the edge, the wide style is limited by the line inward. On it is rewriting:
• - FEAR - GOD - AND - FOLLOW - HIS - COMMANDS - at the top is a six-pointed star.
In
• a closed field on a wall with 3 teeth and a gate, a bear screams to the right.
• The wall is tilted to the right upward, a bear with a collar and a crown.

Downside:

• Along the edge is a wide hoop bounded by a line inward. On it is rewriting:
• - ALBRECHT - DER - BEAR - REG. - 1123 - BIS - 1170 - upper 6-ray star.
In the surrounded
• field, the Ankhalta coat of arms above it is a free-floating 5-arc crown.

Tape:

Obverse: Order of Albrecht the Bear Gold Medal of Merit

Reverse: Order of Albrecht the Bear Gold Medal of Merit

Established:

November 18, 1836 by the Dukes Henry of Anhalt-Kötensky, Leopold Friedrich of Anhalt-Dessau and Alexander Karl of Anhalt-Bernburg

Awarded:

1836 – 1918

Data:

• Material: gold-plated bronze
• Size: 31mm
• Weight: 12.4g

estimated collector price:

130 – 150 €

OEK Number:

19