Awards of Germany - Award medal of the large military orphanages Potsdam and Precha 2. Form 1872

A large military shelter in Potsdam was founded by King Frederick William I in 1724. The reason was the numerous losses in the war for the Spanish inheritance. This shelter served as a place for the upbringing and education of soldiers' children and war orphans. Initially, the goal was to protect children from homelessness and give them the opportunity to get a school education or profession. Children were from 6 to 16 years old. Under Christian guidance, they were taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. To supply food, the crown estate Bornstedt was used. By 1740, the orphanage was expanded, and education was increasingly relegated to the background. Children increasingly became cheap labour, for example in the largest cloth mill and witness factory, or even at the mine in Bad Freienwald. At that time, about 1,400 boys and 155 girls lived in the shelter. The leadership was strictly military.
For employees of orphanages in Potsdam and Prece, a medal for diligence and good leadership was first established in 1859. In the period until 1889, 4 forms of the medal came to the award. 1. Form without founder portrait. The front side is similar to the back side of later forms. On the reverse side is a carrier engraving. The 2nd form (shown here) of 1872 for the first time with the portrait of the founder William I on the front. The first two molds were made by the stamping cutter Schnitzspiegel. The 3rd form of 1888 and the 4th form of 1889 are depicted on the obverse of William II. 3. The form was created by tailor Otto Schulz 4. Form of Emil Waigand.

Round silver medal with rim. (Not portable)

Front side:

• Along the edge is the inscription: - WILHELM - KOE - NIG - VON - PREUSSEN -
• (Medals inscribed: WILHELM GERMAN KAISER KÖNIG VON PREUSSEN ALSO KNOWN)
In the
• center is a portrait of William I. In the cervical section is small:
• - C. FEC THREADED TWINE. –
• Under the cervical region are small: - G. LOOS D. -.

Downside:

• On the edge of the inscription: - FOR - DILIGENCE - U. - GOOD - GUIDE -
• IM - BIG - MILITAIR - = - ORPHANAGE - 5-ray star below.
In the
• center is a large closed wreath of flowers and fruits.
• In the nested field, the four-line font is: - ZU -/- POTSDAM -/- AND -/- PRETZSCH -

Obverse: Award medal of the large military orphanages Potsdam and Precha 2. Form 1872

Reverse: Award medal of the large military orphanages Potsdam and Prezsch 2. Form 1872

Established:

In 1859, King Frederick William IV.
1872 by King William I (2nd form)

Awarded:

1st form 1859-1860.
2nd form 1872-1888.
3rd form 1888-1889.
4th form 1889-1918

Data:

• Material: Silver
• Size: 41.5mm
• Weight: about 24.5g (2nd form)

estimated collector price:

225 – 260 € 2. Form

OEK Number:

Without