Awards of Germany - Nassau Order of Military and Civil Merit

The knight's cross without swords, presented here, was awarded to civilians. Merits could be very different. General services to the Duke, the House of Nassau or the country were noted. Individuals who are particularly loyal and loyal may also be considered. The Order of Adolf of Nassau (full name) was established by Duke Adolf I on May 8, 1858 in memory of King Adolf of Nassau. The motto is VIRTUTE - virtue. In 1292, he was elected Holy Roman Emperor. At first it consisted of the following classes: Grand Cross, Komtur 1st and 2nd. Class, Knight and 4. Class (owner). Grand Cross and Comtour 1. The class was assigned in addition to the cross with a chest star. Komtur 2. The class was assigned without a breast star. Crosses of the first 3 classes carry a gold, openwork crown over the order cross. The knight's cross is gold, with enameled cross sleeves and a middle shield. 4th grade is a silver cross with enameled middle shields. In 1860, the order was expanded with the Silver Cross of Merit. All classes were awarded to military personnel with swords crossed through the center. In 1866, the award ended with the annexation by Prussia. The order continues to be awarded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with a modified inscription on the reverse. Now it is read - 1292 -/- 1860 -. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. II, 1997.

Golden Cross in Maltese uniform. White enameled cruciform arms with small gold balls on the tops of the cross. Front and back sides with superimposed round medallion. Between the tips of the upper cruciform shoulder is a pupate ear with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• Round central shield with a wide blue enameled ring inside and out with a gold border.
• Above 3 golden laurel branches, right and left. Below is the gold font:
• - VIRTUTE - (on merit) in the included white enameled field,
• golden Gothic letter - A - above it is a golden crown (imperial crown).

Downside:

• The round central shield is white enameled with a gold border.
• Above and below there is a small gold decoration. Between the 2-line gold digits of the year:
• - 1292 - and - 1858 - between them a horizontal golden protrusion with a point in the center.

Tape:

• blue 38 mm wide, side stripes yellow 4 mm.

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