German Awards - Small Gold Medal "For Merit" by Frederick I 1882

Small gold medal "For Merit" - 2nd level of medals "For Merit." She was granted for services faithfully rendered and in special recognition and benevolence of the reigning Grand Duke. A small gold medal, as a rule, was awarded to non-commissioned officers and soldiers, as well as equivalent ranks, such as hospital assistants, gunsmiths and toolmakers, field mail guides, etc.
Baden's first civil merit medals were instituted by Margrave Carl Friedrich in 1790. Previously, medals could not be worn. Despite the dignity of the Elector already acquired in 1803 and the Grand Duke in 1806, medals with the census of the Elector or Grand Duke Karl Friedrich are not known. The first civilian Medals of Merit with the name "Grand Duke" (MAGN.D.BAD.D.ZAERING.) were established by Grand Duke Karl Friedrich in 1810. The 2nd form bears the image of Grand Duke Charles and was granted only in 1817/18. For the first time with the signature of Karl Groscherzog of Baden. The third variant was introduced by Grand Duke Ludwig in 1818. The 4th version depicts the Grand Duke Leopold, awarded until 1852 in 3 types of stamps. 5th version with the image of Prince Regent Frederick. The 6th option is with Frederick as Grand Duke after 1856. In 1866, the charter of medals was adopted. The division into the Great Gold Medal for Merit, the Small Gold Medal for Merit and the Silver Medal for Merit remained. New was the distinction of merit. Now the medals have been awarded "For Merit" and "For Salvation." For this, new brands were made for the front and back. The reverse, which featured a griffin badenia from 1810, was replaced by an oak-leafy wreath with a destination inscription. The first Avers stamps were made by C. Schnitspahn (manufacturer under the neck). The reverse seal belongs to Ludwig Kahel, a professor and medalist in Darmstadt. In 1881, new stamps were made by the mint Frank. This variant, shown here, does not have a manufacturer's signature under the neck. The small gold medal "For Merit" was awarded 2661 times in 2 forms. 1. Stamp cutter embossing has only been awarded 409 times. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. I, 1997.

Round gold medal with raised border. On top of the soldered thickened eye for pulling the tape.

Front side:

• On the rim 4/5 above the inscription: - FRIEDRICH - GROSHERZOG - VON - BADEN -.
In the
• center of the picture is a portrait of Friedrich with a beard.
• When using a punch, this cutter is small under the neck.

Downside:

• Along the edge, a dense wreath of oak foliage is tied with a double loop from below.
• The wreath is formed from 7 groups of leaves with acorns on the right and left.
• In the included field, 2-line font: - FOR -/- MERIT -.

Tape:

• Yellow 36 mm.

.