German Awards - Silver Medal of Merit 1857 (youthful portrait)

The medals were established in 1857 by Grand Duke Karl Alexander. The first medals with the inscription on the back - "For Merit" - were also awarded in 3 stages since 1834 under the Grand Duke Karl Friedrich. The exact fund provision with date and charter is unknown. Medals in gold, silver and bronze were awarded to subjects of the Grand Duchy for civil services to the land and the ruling house. On December 7, 1889, the principles of the award were first published. This first form was replaced under Charles Alexander in 1892. The Grand Duke could now be seen with an older image on the front.
Silver medals for merit were awarded most often - 209 times. Gold and bronze medals were awarded much less often. The seal was carried out by Professor Ferdinand Helfricht, a court medalist in Gotha since 1832. Stamps with the old image were also made by Helfricht back in 1889, 3 years before the start of the award and his death.

Silver medal with border. Above is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

In
• center - left-facing portrait of the Grand Duke with an older face.
• Along the edge is the inscription: - KARL - ALEXANDER - GRAND DUKE - VON - SAXONY -.
• Down the edge is a small - HELFRICHT F. -.

Downside:

• Along the edge is a dense oak-deciduous wreath. Above and below they are connected crosswise.
• In the included field, 2-line font: - DEM -/- MERIT -.

Tape:

Width 39 mm, side stripes green/yellow 5 mm each, central stripes black 19 mm.

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