Awards of Germany - Order of Merit in the field of art and science 1st degree since 1890

The Order of Merit in the Field of Art and Science in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was established on July 23, 1874 by Duke George II. donated. The Order of Merit was awarded in 2 classes. Shown here is 1. The class was a silver cross. 2nd class silver gilded medal. The Silver Medal for Arts and Sciences was not instituted as such, but was still awarded. It can be called unofficial 3. are called a class. Awarding was carried out in cases where artistic performance was considered not so outstanding. The incentive and role model was crosses for art and science, awarded in the Duchy of Saxony Coburg and Gotha from 1860. After the presentation of the Coburg crosses and medals, the duke decided on the same design of crosses with corresponding other medallions. However, the size should be focused on the small merit medal and the merit cross. That is, the crosses in Meiningen are somewhat larger than in Coburg and Gotha. The production was entrusted to the court engraver Professor Ferdinand Helfricht in Gotha. The first crosses were placed on March 3, 1875. The first awarding of gold medals took place on August 5, 1874. The presentation included a diploma. On the crosses of the 1st class in the medallion of the front side there are two different alterations. The first form has a script - Georg Herzog zu Sachsen Meiningen - and was produced until 1889. The cross depicted here has a rewrite - Georg Duke of Saxony Meiningen -. New medallions were used from 1890. Overall, there are very few awards of all classes. Due to the small size of the duchy, crosses are very rare. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. III, 1999.

The eight-pointed cross of the Maltese form in silver. Front and back with round, soldered middle shields. Cruciform sleeves with a narrow raised edge are finely granular. Between the cruciform shoulders at a distance from each other is a rotating green enameled wreath with 3 rhombuses between the shoulders. Between the tips of the upper cruciform shoulder, the usual eye with a ribbon ring is soldered.

Front side:

• Round central shield with a small raised edge.
In the
• center is a portrait of the duke, facing right.
• Along the edge is the inscription - GEORG - HERZOG - VON - SACHSEN - MEININGEN -.
• At the bottom is a small edge - HELFRICHT F -.

Downside:

• Round central shield with a small raised edge.
A
• short distance from the edge is a dense oak-deciduous wreath.
• This one is cross-tied at the bottom.
• In the included field, 2-line font - DEM -/- MERIT -.
• Under it is a stone crown with 6 teeth.

Tape:

green 35 mm wide.

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