Awards of Germany - Silver Medal of Merit of the Duke of Saxe-Ernestine Order of the Duke Alfred

The silver medal "For Merit" of the Order of the Saxe-Ernestine House with a portrait of Duke Alfred, presented here, was awarded only from 1895 to 1905. Duke Alfred took office as Duke of Saxony Coburg and Gotha on 22 August 1893. By 1895, the old medals depicting Duke Ernst were still in use. In October 1894, new medals appeared. The project was created by E. Helfricht, the son of Professor Ferdinand Helfricht. The stamps were made by L. R. Lauer in Nuremberg, who also minted medals. Gold (silver gilded) and silver merit medals continued to be awarded. After death, the regency was taken by Crown Prince Ernst von Hohenlohe-Langenburg for the young Duke Karl Edward. During this period, until 1905, the Duke Alfred continued to lend medals. After Charles Edward came to power, new medals were made with his portrait, which were awarded until the end of the monarchy and even after it. Due to the short rental period, only 10 years, medals with Duke Alfred are very rare. The Medal of Merit of the Duke of Saxe-Ernestine Order was established on March 25, 1833 jointly by 3 dukes Friedrich of Saxe-Altenburg, Bernhard Erich Freund of Saxe-Meinigen and for Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Duke Ernst I. Until 1864, the medal was considered a silver Medal of Merit. After that, there was a division into gold (silver gilded) and silver medals for merit. Medals have a portrait of the ruling duke on the front. On the reverse side of the medals there is an image of the Cross of Merit (reverse) of the Order of the Saxe-Ernestine House, and on the rim there is an inscription - Fideliter - et - Constanter - (faithful and persistent). Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. III, 1999.

Silver medal with raised, stepped border. On top there is a wide eye through which the tape stretches.

Front side:

• Along the edge is the inscription: - ALFRED - HERZOG - VON - SACHSEN - COBURG - AND - GOTHA -.
• Below is a small 6-ray star.
• Portrait of Duke Alfred with a beard.
• At the bottom of the graduated edge, the signature is LAUER.

Downside:

In the
• center is a reduced image of an eight-pointed cross for merit,
• The central shield is surrounded by an oak-leafy wreath, in the center is the coat of arms of Saxony.
• On the rim there is an inscription: - FIDELITER - ET - CONSTANTER - a small outlet at the bottom.

Tape:

• purple 26 mm wide, edges 1 mm, side stripes green 4 mm with a black dividing line.

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Obverse: Duke Alfred's Silver Medal of Merit

Flip side: Duke Alfred's Silver Medal of Merit

Established:

March 25, 1833 together with the Dukes Friedrich of Saxe-Altenburg, Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Bernhard Erich Freund of Saxe-Meiningen

Awarded:

1895 – 1905

Data:

• Material: Silver
• Size: 30mm
• Weight: about 13g

estimated collector price:

200 – 230 €

OEK Number:

2528