Awards of Germany - Order of Philip the Magnanimous - battle cross with crown and swords

On May 1, 1840, Grand Duke Ludwig II established the Order of Philip the Magnanimous in the 4th grade. Grand Cross, 1st and 2nd Class Komtur, Knight. The day of establishment was the name day of Philip I. This ancestor (1504-1567) was a landgrave and especially earned in the Hessian house. He introduced Protestantism in Hesse. The 1st class comture, in contrast to the 2nd class comture to the order cross, received another breast star. In 1849, the Silver Cross of the 4th class and swords was established. In 1859, the class of knights was divided into 1st and 2nd classes. The first form of the order (until 1849) depicted Philip as an integral figure. The second form of the order depicted the landgrave only in the form of a chest portrait. Individual classes were also awarded for military merit with swords through the center. However, extradition of them to civilians was possible. Another expansion was the award of a crown from 1881, and a crown and swords for all classes. The last expansion occurred in 1900 with the founding of the Cross of Honor, which takes place between the 2nd class commander and the 1st class knight. Since 1893, swords were to be awarded only for outstanding services in the ongoing war to military and civilians. Sword and crown awards were very rare because the crown was awarded to an already existing class with swords.

Golden cross with slightly figured cross ends. The cross arms are sheathed in gold and enameled in white. Front and back with superimposed round, gold and enameled central shield. 2 crossed golden swords pass through the center. On the upper cruciform shoulder are two wide lintels. A gold, open crown is movably suspended in them. A ring with a 2-fold corrugated, elongated edge ring passes through the imperial apple of the crown.

Front side:

• Central shield with a wide white enameled writing ring. Inside and outside there is a golden border .
• It bears the gold inscription: - SI - DEUS - NOBISCUM - QUIS - CONTRA - NOS
-
• If God is with us, who can be against us?
In
• a sealed light blue enameled field, Philip's gold breast image peeking to the left.

Downside:

• A central shield with a wide white enameled ring, a golden border inside and out.
• It has a gold inscription: - LUDOVICUS - II - MAGN.- DUX - Hassiae - Institut .-
In
• a closed light blue enameled field, an erect Hessian lion striding to the left.
• The lion is white enameled with red transverse stripes.

Tape:

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Obverse: Order of Philip the Magnanimous - Cross of Comtur with crown and swords

Reverse: Order of Philip the Magnanimous - Comture Cross with Crown and Swords

Established:

May 1, 1840, Grand Duke Ludwig II.
1881 Founding of the crown by Grand Duke Ludwig IV.

Awarded:

1881 – 1918

Data:

• Material: gold, enamel
• Size: 50mm, crown 25mm, swords 51mm x 4mm
• Weight: 27.3g

estimated collector price:

4200 – 4400 €

OEK Number:

814