German Awards - King Ernst Augustus Silver Medal of Merit (Big Head) 1846

The medal presented here depicts King Ernst Augustus with a larger head, the 2nd form of merit medals. On June 5, 1841, King Ernst August established new merit medals with his portrait. They were awarded silver and gold in 2 classes. The purpose of merit medals was to increase funds, except for orders, to evaluate excellent merit. The first medals of 1841-1846 depicted an even smaller head of the king. These stamps were also created by the medal Fritz, a stampelschneider from Braunschweig. In 1846, the sculptor and coin engraver Friedrich Bremer created a new fock side stamp. The reverse mark remained unchanged. Medals with a portrait of Ernst Augustus continued to be awarded after his death by King George V. Since 1866, only a few awards have taken place in exile. Since about 1860, only the surname, possibly still an abbreviated name, has been stamped in the margins. Starting in 1815, just over 300 medals were awarded from all forms of the Silver Medal of Merit. The suppliers were Büsch in Hanover and Rothe in Vienna. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. 1, 1999.

Round silver medal with raised border. An elongated eye with a ribbon ring is attached from above. The name of the leper is carved in capital letters on the rim.

Front side:

• On the margins is the inscription: - ERNST - AUGUST - KOENIG - V.- HANNOVER. -.
In the
• center is a large portrait of the king with a mustache and beard.
• Under the neck, the section is small - BREMER F. - (stamping cutter).

Downside:

• Along the edge is a wide oak-leafy wreath with fruits tied below with a double loop.
• In the included box, a 3-line enlarged font in capital letters:
• - MERIT -/- UMS -/- FATHERLAND -.

Tape:

• blue width 40 mm.