Awards of Germany - Order of the House and Merit of Oldenburg Honorary Cross 1. Class with crown

On November 27, 1838, Grand Duke Paul Friedrich Augustus established the Oldenburg Order of the House and Merit (Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig). It was supposed to be a particularly public award and remind of the 25-year return of his father. He was awarded for services to the prince and the fatherland to the Oldenburg and foreigners. The order consisted of the Grand Master, Grand Duke, Grand Prior, Crown Duke after 18 years, chapters and honorary members. Chapters and honorary members were equal in rank and had these classes: Big Cross, Big Comtur, Comtur and Small Cross (from 1860 knightly crosses).
Attached to the order is a common badge of honor in 3 classes: gold, silver and iron. Since 1883, the General Badge of Honor has become the Cross of Honor. The cross depicted here with the crown, granted on February 11, 1856, could thus be awarded as a common badge of honor or an honorary cross of the 1st class with a crown. Early crosses, until about 1895, were made hollow from gilded material (bronze or silver). Later specimens are fully minted and may also have finely grainy cruciform arms. Size and weight vary slightly. with a width of 58 mm to 36 mm and a weight of about 18 g. The early crosses were slightly smaller and thinner, the diameter of the middle shields was 16 mm, later then 18 mm. The crown is connected to the cross by 2 hook eyes and a wide ring.
Over time, various additions and changes were made. In 1841, the Big Crosses were divided into the Golden Big Crosses and the Big Crosses (Silver). In 1856, swords that passed through the center were donated for merits in the war. With a higher talent in peacetime, they were added to the ring. In 1903, the Officers' Cross was established between Komtur and Knight's Cross 1. The class stands. Knight's Crosses 2nd Class were split in 1906. Knight's Crosses 2. Class without crown. The last expansion was the Laurel Fund for sword crosses in 1918.
For the honorary cross of the 1st class with a crown, 239 awards are indicated. The awarding of the crown and swords did not take place.

Gilded bronze cross. Crosses with raised wide edges. The inner sides of the crosses are smooth. Front and back with a round central shield (16 mm), an ordinary ear soldered on the upper cruciform shoulder. A hollow, openwork, golden crown is movably connected with this. A movable ribbon ring passes through the imperial apple.

Front side:

• Round central shield with a relief edge and wide style.
• The latter is delimited inwards with a raised edge.
• It has a sublime paraphrase: - ONE - GOD - ONE - RIGHT - ONE - TRUTH -
• Order motto of Oldenburg.
• In the included field, the letters - P - F - L - are intertwined.
• Initials of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig. Above it is a sitting crown.

Downside:

• Central shield with raised edge.
• The central coat of arms of Oldenburg is framed on both sides by cloth (cloak )
• This right and left top are tied and inflated in the center of the crown.

Tape:

Obverse: Oldenburg Order of the House and Merit Honorary Cross 1. Class with crown

Reverse: Oldenburg Order of the House and Merit Honorary Cross 1. Class with crown

Established:

November 27, 1838 by the Grand Duke Paul Friedrich Augustus
February 11, 1856 Foundation of the Crown

Awarded:

1856 – 1918

Data:

• Material: Bronze gilded
• Size: 56mm x 34mm, 20 x 16mm crown
• Weight: about 11g

estimated collector price:

630 - 650 € silver gilded
320 - 350 € in gold-plated bronze

OEK Number:

1525