German Awards - Order of Merit from St Michael Braststern to Grade 1

The Order of St. Michael was originally a chivalric order founded by Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, then Prince-Bishop of Cologne, on 29 September 1693 and open only to nobility. Members were to defend the Catholic faith as well as provide financial assistance. The secularization of 1803 led to the disappearance of a branch in the Rhineland. The branch in Bavaria lasted until 1837. Initially, the order consisted of 2 classes of the Grand Cross and the Knight. It was expanded to 3 classes in 1808. Grand Cross, Komtur and Knight.
King Ludwig I dissolved the order and established the Order of Merit of St. Michael on February 16, 1837. All persons could now be admitted to it, regardless of faith and class. The prerequisite was excellent useful service in various fields, devotion and love for the homeland, which were supposed to cause the satisfaction of the king. Maximilian II. expanded the order at the expense of gross-komture, dividing the knights into 1st and 2nd. Class before the new classification came into effect in 1887. The unit was: Grand Cross, 1st Class, 2nd Class with Star, 2nd Class, 3rd Class, 4th Class, Cross of Merit and Silver Medal of Merit. In 1894, a bronze medal was added. The last expansion and division occurred in 1910. The Cross of Honor was donated and occupied a place between the 2nd and 3rd grades. The 4th class and the Merit Cross could now be awarded with and without a crown.
Chest stars were awarded to the Grand Cross, 1st Class Cross, and 2nd Class Cross with the Star. Grand Cross Stars and 1. The class is 8-beam and differ in size (86 mm or 75 mm). The star of the 2nd class is four-beam. Notable manufacturers are Weiss & Co., Munich and Eduard Quelhorst, Munich. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. 1, 1997.

Eight-pointed silver star. The rays are shiny with small holes in the gaps. Between the 8 main beams there are 5 intermediate beams graduated to the center. In the center is a golden cross with a round, blue enameled central shield. Cruciform brackets and central shield with diamond edging. Rear side with vertical pin and central circular decorative plate with manufacturer's designation.

Front side:

• On the cross sleeves of the laid golden cross are raised, silver letters in an ornamental font.
• Top: - P -, left: - F -, right: - F - and bottom: - P -. (P-F-F-P) as an abbreviation for:
«
• PRINCIPI FIDELIS FAVERE PATRIA" (loyal to the prince, serving the fatherland)
• On the blue enameled central shield, 3-line gold font in capital letters:
• - QUIS -/- UT -/- DEUS - (Who is like God?)

Downside:

• The body of the ray is flat and silver.
• On the central cover there is an inscription of the manufacturer: On the rim there is an inscription:
• - WEISS - & - Co - down - MUNICH -. Below the curved decorative line
• curved - SOURCE HORST - NCHFG.- (successor)
• Separated by decorative lines - ORDENFABRIK -.
• On the cruciform shoulders there are 4 rivets with which the laid cross is attached.
• Vertically - a pin with a reciprocal hook.

Obverse: Order of Merit from St Michael Braststern to 1st Class

Reverse: Order of Merit from St Michael Braststern to 1st Class

Established:

February 16, 1837 by King Ludwig I.

Awarded:

1855 – 1918

Data:

• Material: silver, gold, enamel
• Size: 75mm
• Weight: 48.5g

estimated collector price:

3000 - 3200 € silver/gold
2200 - 2400 € in silver/gold plated silver

OEK Number:

369