German Awards - Civil Merit Medal 1.Forma

The Civil Merit Medal was established by Duke Ernst in 3 stages. Medals in gold, silver or bronze were made by the court medalist Helfricht. This award was for civic merit, but generally only for artists. Wearable medals with a wide bandage eye were made, as well as non-wearable medals (Fig.). The obverse was branded with the Medal of Merit of the Order of the House. The medals were later redesigned and only reduced in size and presented to wearers. The medals had a diameter of 24 mm. The 2nd form as a hallmark has a different transcription with the abbreviation - Coburg-Gotha - instead of - and -. The 3rd form rewrites the rewriting again - and - and instead of a wide eye, has a regular wire eye with a ribbon ring. With the Ernst II Foundation of the Honorary Cross of Arts and Sciences. In 1860, the Medal of Merit became the bottom step of the cross. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. III, 1999.

Round medal with a border of gold, silver or bronze.

Front side:

In the
• center is a portrait of Ernst I with a laurel wreath on his head.
• On the margins there is an inscription: - ERNST - HERZOG - ZU - SACHSEN -
• - COBURG - AND - GOTHA -
• Down the edge is a small manufacturer - F. HELFRICHT FEC -

Downside:

A dense
• oak-leafy wreath with a double loop is tied along the edge from below.
• In the included field, 2-line font: - DEM -/- MERIT -.
In
• the lower half under it is a stone crown.