German Awards - Silver Medal of Merit of the Duchy of Saxe-Ernestine Order 1914

This silver medal of merit with a sword of 1914 is the first award after the foundation of the sword. A prerequisite for awarding a sword for military merit was citizenship and possession of the Iron Cross 2. Klasse.The medals for the merit of the Duchy of Saxe-Ernestine Order were established on May 22, 1915 for the 1st World War. At first it was only 1914 on the screed. Later, a slash and an award year were added to the year number. The supplier of the braces was Bury & Leonhard of Hanau. The "Silver Medal of Merit of the Duke of Saxe-Ernestine of the House" was established jointly by the dukes listed below together 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." For the 1914 sword medal, 105 awards are indicated. 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. The tape clip has a wide jumper on the back, through which the tape is stretched. Above and below on the ridge along the edge is a recessed groove. The band is slightly curved with a raised narrow edge. The inner sides are shaded perpendicular. It rises a year - 1914 -. 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.

.

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

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

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:

1915

Data:

• Material: Silver
• Size: 30mm, screed 28mm x 9mm
• Weight: 14g medal, 3.4g sword clasp

estimated collector price:

650 – 700 €

OEK Number:

2550