German Awards - 1914 War Merit Silver Medal

This award was established on August 21, 1914 by Prince Gunther for both principalities. The medal, first presented to Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt on 21 October 1870, was renewed in 1914. Basic credit conditions have been adopted. The medal was awarded to citizens of Schwarzburg of both principalities. Servicemen who did not distinguish themselves before the enemy could also be awarded. This concerned, in particular, the servicemen of the staging and occupation troops, who deserved especially faithful and conscientious performance of duties. They received a medal on a blue and white ribbon. Front-line soldiers were awarded a medal on the yellow and blue ribbon of the Cross of Honor. Gaudet made the seal of the medal in Berlin. However, the coinage order was passed to the court jeweller Schüle in Sondershausen. However, he still reads Godet. There are different opinions about the material. Gessenthal/Schreiber points to the minting of the first pieces with silver. Others indicate silver-plated nickel silver. There are also bronze medals. At the end of the war, the medals were also silver plated in war metal (zinc) and made of iron. The embossing of products, especially in bronze and thin zinc silver medals, is slightly different. Front-line soldiers were awarded a total of 13,700 medals, and not front-line soldiers - 990 medals. The side shown here as the front side is the status back side. Front side with font merit in the war. Since in most cases the cipher with the year number was carried forward, the order here is also presented in this way.

Round silver medal with raised border. Above is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• Two intertwined and decorated letters - G - which mirrors one.
• Above it is a princely crown, below is the number of the year - 1914 -

Downside:

• Central 3-line inscription: - MERIT - IM - WARS -
• Along the edge with some gap, a laurel wreath tied from below

Tape:

Strip 1: golden yellow with a width of 30 mm, edge stripes blue 4 mm, central stripes blue 4 mm.

Tape 2: blue 28 mm wide, yellow edge stripes 3 mm.

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