German Awards - Nassau Ducal Order of Military and Civil Merit - 4th Class Cross with Swords

Duke Adolf I established on May 8, 1858 the ducal Nassau Order of Military and Civil Merit of Adolf of Nassau (full name). It was laid in memory of King Adolf of Nassau. 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. Upon promotion to a higher class or death, the order was subject to return. The award number of the 4th class with swords is indicated in 31 pieces.
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.

Silver cross in Maltese uniform. The cruciform arms are finely granular with small balls on the crosses. Front and back sides with raised, gold, round medallion. 2 swords are crossed through the center, gold handles, and silver blades. Between the tips of the upper cruciform shoulder is a pupate ear with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• Round gold 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 31 mm wide, golden side stripes 3 mm.

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