German Awards - Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown

The chest star depicted here for the grosser was granted a comture along with the order cross after the introduction of the class in 1855. Large mosquitoes were the second largest class after the Grand Cross. It is equal in shape to the breast star to the Big Cross. The differences are in size and method of wearing. Velikokomtura became both domestic and foreign. The Order of Merit for the Bavarian Crown was established by King Maximilian Joseph I on May 19, 1808. This order is also known as the Crown Order of the Bavarian Crown or the Civil Order of Merit. The motto of the order was VIRTUS ET HONOS - virtue and honor. On the one hand, honored civil servants of Bavaria were awarded without taking into account rank and position, as well as foreigners who earned for the Bavarian crown. The award was associated with the elevation to the personal (not hereditary) nobility. When awarded the order for over 3 generations, the personal nobility was transformed into hereditary nobility. Cavaliers of the order were allowed to add the title to their name - Knights... Initially, the order was established in 3 classes: the Grand Cross, Komtur and Knight. Gold and silver medals were awarded. Under King Maximilian II. a Grand Komtur class was added. The number of individual classes was limited. Initially, only 12 large crosses, 24 komturny and 100 knightly were allowed to be awarded. With the revision of the statutes in 1817, the number of awards was increased to 24, 40 and 160. Although the award was not tied to any specific status, the award took into account that the lent should also have been able to lead a decent life. Thus, the awarded person had to have sufficient financial resources, land ownership or other property, which excluded the awarding of "ordinary citizens." Compared to the Komtur, the number of large cars was about 1/3. In 1909, Nummergut lists a total of 33 large cars in Germany and abroad. Source: Nemmergut, German Orders and Badges of Honor until 1945, Volume 1,

Ahluchevaya, arched, diamond and openwork chest star made of silver. The body consists of 8 main beams. There are 5 intermediate jets between them, graduated to the center. They are 2-row diamond. In the center is a round, gold, enameled medallion. It is surrounded by an enameled wreath of oak leaves. The reverse is smooth gilded with a perpendicular pin with a response hook. In the center is a round overlay with the manufacturer's designation.

Front side:

• Middle medallion with a wide dark red translucent enameled ring, inside and out with a golden shiny border.
• The golden motto of the order is VIRTUS - ET - HONOS -, below is a flower with 3 leaves on the sides.
• The enclosed midfield is enamelled in white/blue with Bavarian diamonds.
In the
• center is a golden 5-beam royal crown.
• Around the medallion is a golden burgundy, tied below with a bow wreath of oak leaves with fruits.
• The leaves are translucent, enameled green.

Downside:

• Smooth and gilded. Vertically - a pin with a reciprocal hook.
• Central round cover plate with raised edge with manufacturer.
At the
• top of the edge - WHITE - & - Co - Under a curved decorative line.
• Curved below - QUELHORST - NCHFG. -.
At
• the bottom - ORDENFABRIK - curved up.
• Down the edge - MUNICH -. Between them is a decoration.

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Obverse: Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown to the Grand Comture

Reverse: Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown of the Breast Star to the Grand Komtur

Established:

May 19, 1808 by King Maximilian Joseph I.
1855 Introduction of the large comture

Awarded:

1855 – 1818

Data:

• Material: silver, gold, enamel
• Size: 73mm
• Weight: about 55g

estimated collector price:

4800 – 5000 €

OEK Number:

361