Awards of Germany - Royal Crown Order of the Cross 4th class 1863-1868

The 4th class cross depicted here with a smaller royal crown was considered 2nd. The form was granted between 1863 and 1868. Later crosses, beginning in 1869, show a large royal crown, which was retained until the end of the award. The body of the cross of the 2nd form is even slightly smaller than that of the 3rd form. The Order of the Crown was established on October 18, 1861 by King William I in memory of the coronation. The Royal Crown Order originally consisted of 4 classes. Crosses from the first to the third grade had white enameled cruciform arms, the fourth grade was without enameled cruciform arms. 1 and 2. The class was awarded along with a breast star. According to the latest data, you can now assign 4 models and production periods. The first award period from 1861 to the end of 1862 showed a crown that was very high and a bit like the Austrian crown, the so-called bishop's cap. The second rental period or the 2nd model of 1863-1868 had a round, small crown. In 1869, the small crown was replaced by a large crown. The 3rd form with gold medallions was awarded from 1869 to 1916. From 1917 to 1918, crosses and medallions were made of silver with gilding and can be as 4th. The model is classified. Source: Mike Estelmann, "New Knowledge of the Models of the Royal Prussian Order of the Crown," paper at the 16th Scientific Symposium of the German Society for Order Studies 2013, J. Nimmergut, "German Orders and Insignia before 1945," vol. II, 1997.

Gilded bronze cross. The cruciform shoulders with raised edges are finely granular inside. In cruciform sleeves at a distance inside a gold, raised, thin rim. Front and back sides with superimposed round medallion. On top is a soldered eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

In the
• center rises a gold medallion with a wide blue enameled ring with a gold inscription:
• - GOD - C - US - at the bottom is a socket with 2 branches on the right and left.
In a field
• surrounded by gold, a smaller Prussian royal crown.

Downside:

In the
• center is a gold medallion with a wide blue enameled ring with a gold inscription:
• Above - DEN - 18 - OCTOBER -, below - 1861 -.
In a field
• surrounded by gold, an intertwined, decorated cipher - W - R - on a grainy background.

Tape:

• Width 29 mm, blue.