German Awards - Silver Medal of Merit 1888

The medals were established on May 25, 1888 by Prince Voldemar. Awarded in 2 classes, gold (silver gilded) and silver. They served as a substitute for joint merit medals not awarded since 1877. The Medal of Merit was awarded for remuneration and recognition of special merits, many years of faithful service and commendable deeds. A silver medal was awarded for saving human lives. Domestic and foreign citizens such as civil servants, courtiers and military personnel were awarded. The first award took place in October 1888 to the Prussian gendarmes on the occasion of the visit of the emperor. To better characterize military merits, Prince Leopold IV established. 1906 - gold and silver crossed swords on a ribbon.
The stamp was made by Emil Weigand, a medalist at the Royal Prussian Mint in Berlin. The medals were made by court jeweler Karl Busch in Hanover. The latter produced from 1888 to 1917. From 1917 to 1918, production at Pforzheim was taken over by C. F. Zimmerman. The Berlin company Sy & Wagner supplied 1898 16 silver medals for merit, and then made medals for private needs. A total of 593 silver merit medals were awarded between 1888 and 1918. Source: Rainer Schwark, order and badge of honor of the principality of Lippe Detmold 1778-1933, works of the Lipp Land Museum, vol. VI, 2005.

Round silver medal. The princely crown is movably attached along the upper edge, the gaps between which are filled (filed). A ribbon ring passes through the imperial crown apple.

Front side:

In the
• center is a portrait of a prince with a beard, facing right.
• On the edge there is an inscription: - VOLDEMAR - PRINCE - ZU - GUBA - below - 1888 -.
• Under the cervical region is small: - WEIGAND F. -

Downside:

A
• short distance from the edge is a wide dense wreath of oak leaves.
• This one at the bottom is tied in a double loop. Under the loop is small - E.- W.-.
• In the included field, the 4-line font is FOR -/- FIDELITY -/- AND -/- MERIT -.

Tape:

• red 33 mm wide, side edges blue 8 mm.

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