German Awards - Silver Medal "For Civil Merit" (1st form)

This medal was established on September 26, 1878 by Prince Georg Victor for the special merits of civilians and soldiers of lower ranks. The award for service members differs from the award for civilians by ribbon. The civil ribbon is orange-yellow with red and black side stripes. For military merits, white with yellow, red and black side stripes.
The first form has a smaller princely crown. Medals with a large princely crown were awarded from 1899 to 1918. Since November 1915, medals also began to be awarded silver-plated in military metal. The prices are the same for both versions. A total of 1,218 silver medals were awarded. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. III, 1999.

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

Front side:

In
• smooth field under the princely crown initials of the founder in Gothic script - G - V -.

Downside:

In
• smooth field font 2 lines: - FOR -/- FOR MERIT -.

Tape:

• golden yellow 36 mm wide, edging 1 mm, side stripes black/red 4 mm each.