German Awards - 1848 Silver Cross of Merit

The Cross of Merit was established in 1832 on behalf of Elector Wilhelm II by his successor, Prince Frederick Wilhelm. In 1831, he was already co-ruler in the Elector of Hesse-Kassel. The Merit Cross was awarded in gold and silver. The military and civilian medals awarded by that time for the merits of 1821 were abolished. Crosses were awarded to military, court and civil servants, as well as other subjects who served long and faithfully. The award also took into account special actions committed thanks to courage in danger, for the sake of the public good or for the benefit of the sovereign. The elector or regent himself determined the award. The order commission could make proposals where appropriate. The badge of honor was subject to return in the event of the death of the awarded within 4 months. When awarded the golden cross, the already awarded silver cross of merit was to be returned.
The first crosses from 1832 to 1847 had on the medallions in front under the crown the code - WK II -, for William II. Elector, and behind the crown the code - FW -, for Friedrich Wilhelm Co-ruler. The first form of crosses was awarded gold 35 times and silver 91 times. Gold crosses were melted down except for one. Friedrich Wilhelm became elector on November 21, 1847, changing medallions to crosses of merit. The medallion on the obverse now depicts the cipher - FW - under the crown. The back medallion now features a crowned Hessian lion. These crosses, as shown here, were awarded from 1848 to 1852. Only 3 crosses were awarded in gold, and 57 crosses in silver. Military merit accounts for 40 crosses. They were awarded a special ribbon for the fighting of 1848-1851. The last modification of the silver cross "For Merit" was made in 1852. The cross now has straight cruciform arms and, apart from the front medallion, looks like the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle 4th class with smooth cruciform arms. 33 awards are listed here. Source: Jörg Nemmergut "German Orders and Insignia until 1945" Volume 1, 1999.

Silver cross with curly cross ends. The transverse shoulders are smooth with narrow raised edges. Front and back sides with separate round medallions (17 mm). On the upper cruciform shoulder is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

A medallion with a raised edge shows a towering Gothic cipher against a smooth background:
- F - W - for Friedrich Wilhelm under the 5-ironed crown.
On cross sleeves raised in Gothic font at the top - Behind -, on the left - Verf = -,
on the right is service - and at the bottom - and -/- fidelity -.

Downside:

A medallion with a raised border depicts a crowned Hessian lion against a smooth background.
This enlarges, progresses to the left and has 3 horizontal, shaded, raised bars.
On cross sleeves raised in Gothic font at the top - Behind -, on the left - Verf = -,
on the right is service - and at the bottom - and -/- fidelity -.

Tape: