Awards of Germany - Order of Merit of St. Michael Cross 4th Class with Crown
The Royal Order of Merit 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. 4th grade and the cross "For Merit" could now be awarded with and without a crown. A notable manufacturer was Jacob Reeder. With the manufacturer's punch - J.L. - it's on the lower cruciform shoulder. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. 1, 1997.
Silver cross with dark blue, transparent, enameled, silver-burgundy cross sleeves. Front and back with a raised middle shield. On the upper cruciform sleeve is an ornamented agraf. Attached is an open, movable, silver crown. A ribbon ring passes through the imperial crown apple.
Front side:
- The silver central shield is highly oval and evenly spaced up and down.
- On it is an image of the archangel Michael standing on a defeated (dragon) devil
. In - with his left hand he holds a shield with the slogan - QUIS -/- UT -/- DEUS -.
- (Who is like God) He has a cross on his chest, both blue.
Downside:
- The silver central shield is round and smooth.
- Mitiig blue inscription: - VIRTUTI - (virtue).
- The front central shield rises above them and is visible from behind.
Tape:
- Width 35 mm, pink side stripes of 6 mm, dark blue central strip 23 mm.
Obverse: St Michael of the Cross 4th Class Order of Merit with Crown
Reverse: St Michael of the Cross 4th Class Order of Merit with Crown
Established:
February 16, 1837 by King Ludwig I.
1887 4. Class since 1910 with Crown
Data:
- Material: silver, enamel
- Size: 62mm x 37.5mm, 21mm x 25mm crown
- Weight: about 22g
estimated collector price:
870 – 900 €