German Awards - Princely Lippe House Order of Merit Silver Cross

The Cross of Merit was presented simultaneously with the highest classes of the Order of the House on October 25, 1869 by two princes Paul Friedrich Emil Leopold Lippe-Detmold and Adolf Georg Schaumburg-Lipp in gold and silver. The Lippe-Detmold crosses differ from the Schaumburg-Lippe crosses by different initials on the obverse. The Lippe-Detmold crosses carry - P F E L - and the Schaumburg-Lippe crosses - A G - the initials of the corresponding prince. Early gold crosses are soldered from 2 pieces and hollow. Since 1912, they became gilded with silver and minted en masse. Early silver crosses are thicker and weigh about 30-33 g. Later crosses weigh only about 20 g and are thinner. Swords were donated through the center for military services. However, they were no longer issued or issued. Swords were worn on ribbon. The stamps were made by Friedrich Bremer, Hanover. 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.

Silver, eight-pointed cross. On the tips of the cruciform hands are small balls. Cross arms with polished, smooth, raised edges. The insides are finely indented. Front and back with embossed central screen (21 mm). Between the tips of the upper cruciform shoulder is a fan-shaped decoration with a spherical ear and a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• Central shield with a wide ring between 2 raised lines.
• Top crown. On the ring there is an inscription: - DEN - XXV - OCTOBER - MDCCCLXIX
-
• date of foundation October 25, 1869.
In
• a closed, finely divided field, a confusing name trait is P F E L -
• for Prince Paul Friedrich Emil Leopold.

Downside:

• Central shield with a wide ring between 2 raised lines.
• Top crown. On the ring is the inscription: - FOR - LOYALTY - AND - MERIT -.
In
• a closed, finely grained field Lippian rose.

Tape:

• red 28 mm wide, golden lateral edges 4 mm.

.

Obverse: Princely Lippe House Order of Merit Silver Cross

Reverse: Princely Lippe House Order of Merit Silver Cross

Established:

On October 25, 1869, Prince Paul Friedrich Emil Leopold (Lippe) and Prince Adolf Georg (Schaumburg-Lippe)

Awarded:

1869 – 1918

Data:

• Material: Silver
• Size: 41.5mm x 45.2mm
• Weight: about 33g

estimated collector price:

270 – 290 €

OEK Number:

1142/6