Awards of Germany - Order of Merit, 1st degree

The Order of Merit for the Principality of Waldeck was originally established as a medal on July 3, 1857 by Prince Georg Friedrich. On January 14, 1871, Prince George Victor established the Order of Merit as a cross. The new 1st class was a gold cross with oak foliage as the covering for the ribbon ring. On September 26, 1878, the 3rd grade was awarded a silver cross and a silver medal for merit. Since January 14, 1891, the cross is 2nd class. On March 28, 1896, it was renamed the Cross of Merit and expanded to 4 classes. Shown here is 1. The Order of Merit was awarded only until the reorganization in 1896 by Prince Frederick. The award number is 188. The 2nd class medal was awarded 98 times.
On May 12, 1915, all classes were awarded swords for military merit. Since February 1918, for the award of swords, the possession of the Iron Cross was 1. Class requirement. Only Waldeck-Pyrmont subjects who made money on the princely house and land were eligible. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. III, 1999.

A cross made of gold in the form of a Johannite cross. The cross arms are sheathed in gold and enameled in white. Front side with a large enameled middle shield worn. Reverse with a round large gold middle shield. Between the tops of the upper cruciform shoulder is a transversely standing ear, into which golden oak foliage with an elongated ribbon ring is suspended.

Front side:

• The central shield is round with a wide blue enameled edge.
• Inside a narrow gold ring
• An 8-striped black enameled stral wreath is laid on the round central shield.
• The edges of the rays are polished with gold. It has a round shield with a gold border.
• The enclosed field is covered in white enamel with a gold burgundy red enameled Pyrmonter anchor cross
• At the bottom on the blue rim and between the rays is a 4-part gold font:
• - Dem -/- Ver-/- dien-/- ste - Above the center, 1 gold star on the right and left.

Downside:

• Golden central shield with border.
• On a fine-grained background, the letters - G V - are intertwined.
• Put on the princely crown. (Ribbon belongs to the Military Merit Cross)

Tape:

• Collar golden yellow 52 mm wide, edging 1 mm, side stripes black/red 3 mm each.

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Front side: Order of Merit, 1st class

Reverse: 1st Class Order of Merit

Established:

July 3, 1857 Establishment of the Medal of Merit by Prince Georg Victor
January 14, 1871 the establishment of the Order of Merit

Awarded:

1871 – 1896

Data:

• Material: gold, enamel
• Size: 62mm cross, oak leaf 18mm x 16mm
• Weight: 27.5g

estimated collector price:

3100 – 3300 €

OEK Number:

2845