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

The silver medal for merit of the Order of the Saxe-Ernestine House in Saxon Coburg and Gotha, shown here, is the first medal awarded under Duke Ernst in the 2nd version without a stamp cutter. Minting 1 is made by Ferdinand Helfricht (Ferdinand Helfricht), since 1831 a court engraver at the Gothic Mint, and has a manufacturer's signature - F. HELFRICHT FEC. -. After his death in 1892, L. R. Lauer from Nuremberg took over the manufacture of the medals. They are not shown to have a manufacturer's mark on the bottom and were only awarded from 1892 to 1895. The Medal of the Duchy of Saxe-Ernestine was established on March 25, 1833 jointly by 3 dukes Friedrich of Saxe-Altenburg, Bernhard Erich Freund of Saxe-Meinigen and Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha on January 2, 1835. Until 1864, the medal was awarded in the same class as a silver medal for 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:

• On the margins there is an inscription: - ERNST - HERZOG - ZU - SACHSEN - COBURG - AND - GOTHA -.
• Below is a small 6-ray star.
In the
• center is a portrait of Duke Ernst with a laurel wreath on his head.

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.

.

Obverse: Duke Ernst's Silver Medal of Merit

Flip side: Duke Ernst'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:

1892 -1895

Data:

• Material: Silver
• Size: 38.5mm
• Weight: 26.2g

estimated collector price:

280 – 300 €

OEK Number:

2526