Awards of Germany - Silver Medal of Merit of the Duke of Saxe-Ernestine Order 1914/8

The "Silver Medal of Merit of the Duke of Saxe-Ernestine of the House with Swords," full name, was established jointly by the dukes listed below along with the Order of the House. Initially, this medal was awarded only in silver. Only in 1864 silver gilded medals and silver medals began to be awarded. The corresponding medals of the duchies had the image of the ruler of the corresponding duchy. The reverse was the same for all ducal merit medals.
Medals of merit depicting the chest of Karl Edward have been issued since 1905 in 2 coinage options. The 1st version from M.v.Kawaczynski is somewhat stronger and to the left of the head has a manufacturer's designation - M.v.K. -. The 2nd option was awarded from 1914 for services to the homeland with belt belts without swords and with belt belts with swords for military merits. The bars are gilded with silver for gold and silver for the silver medal "For Merit." At first, only the year 1914 was tied. Later, a slash and an award year were added to the year number. A prerequisite for awarding a sword for military merit was citizenship and possession of the Iron Cross of the 2nd class. The 1914/8 sword medal was awarded a total of 4,727 times. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. III, 1999.

Silver medal without edge. A wide flat eye is soldered on top, through which the tape is stretched. Tape clips with 2 cotter pins attached to the tape. The band is slightly curved with a raised narrow edge. The inner sides are shaded perpendicular. It rises a year - 1914/8 -. Hang your swords. The handles rest on the sides of the brace, and the blades intersect above the brace in the middle.

Front side:

• Facing right is the young chest image of Karl Edward in a guards uniform and cloak.
• On the edge, starting and ending with a coat, a round paraphrase:
• - CARL - ° - EDUARD - ° - HERZOG - ° - V - ° - SACHSEN - ° - COBURG - ° - U - ° - GOTHA -

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.
• The back of the swords is smooth.

Tape:

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

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Obverse: Silver Medal of Merit of the Duchy of Saxe-Ernestine Order with Sword 1914/8

Reverse: Silver Medal of Merit of the Duchy of Saxe-Ernestine Order with Sword 1914/8

Established:

March 25, 1833 together with the Dukes Friedrich of Saxe-Altenburg, Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Bernhard Erich Freund of Saxe-Meiningen
May 22, 1915 Belt Breaker Foundation

Awarded:

1918 -1919

Data:

• Material: Silver
• Size: 30mm
• Weight: 17g medal, 4.5g sword clasp

estimated collector price:

160 -180 €

OEK Number:

2554