German Awards - Order of the Vendian Crown Golden Cross of Merit

This order was created jointly by the Grand Dukes Friedrich Franz II. established in Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Friedrich Wilhelm in Mecklenburg-Strelitz on May 12, 1864. It consisted of 4 classes: a large cross, a large komtur, a komtur and a knight. The number of awards was limited for both grand duchies. A merit cross in gold and silver was attached. Crosses were awarded with 2 different decisions. 1. Mecklenburg-Schwerin: "Per Aspera ad Astra" (Through density to light) and 2. Mecklenburg-Strelitz: "Avito viret Honore" (It blooms in generic honor). The medallion behind, respectively, with different letters - F F -, for Friedrich Franz Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, or - F W -, for Friedrich Wilhelm Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Crosses of gold and gilded silver were awarded. Gold crosses were made hollow and soldered. Silver gilded crosses are fully minted. The makers of the crosses were Godet & Sohn in Berlin and Lasne in Paris. In total, Godet made 41 golden crosses for merit. Lasne made between 1875 and 1899 15 gold merit crosses. Источник: Peter Ohm-Hieronymussen, Die Mecklenburg-Strelitzer Orden und Ehrenzeichen, 2000.

An eight-pointed cross made of gold with raised, polished edges. The inner sides of the cruciform sleeves are fine-grained. Front and rear with a separate round central screen. Between the cross arms, respectively, the Mecklenburg griffin, 2 up and 2 down. Between the upper cruciform peaks is an ornamented agraff, to which a golden 5-tuberous crown is attached. A ribbon ring passes through the imperial crown apple. In the ring of the manufacturers' tape - JG&S - for Godet & Sohn, Berlin.

Front side:

• A round gold medallion with a wide ring, inside and out with a raised border.
• On this, on grainy soil, the sublime slogan of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz house:
• - AVITO - VIRET - HONORE - (Blooms in generic honor) at the bottom of the 6-petal flower.
In
• a locked, grainy midfield, a raised Venzen crown.

Downside:

• Round golden central shield with a granular bottom and raised keeled edge.
In the
• center are intertwined letters - F - (mirror) and - W -.
• For Friedrich Wilhelm, Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Tape:

• Width 28 mm, side stripes yellow/light blue 2.5 mm each, medium stripes crimson 18 mm.

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Obverse: Order of the Vendian Crown Golden Cross of Merit

Reverse: Order of the Vendian Crown Golden Cross of Merit

Established:

May 12, 1864 by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II. and Friedrich Wilhelm

Awarded:

1864 – 1918

Data:

• Material: Gold
• Size: 62mm x 44mm, 22mm x 16mm crown
• Weight: 20g

estimated collector price:

1800 - 2000 € in gold
900 - 1000 € silver gilded

OEK Number:

1388