Awards of Germany - Order of Merit of St. Michael

King Ludwig I established the Order of Merit of St. Michael on February 16, 1837. The Cross of Merit was established in 1887 with the reorganization of the order. 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.
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.
After the establishment of the Order of Merit in 1837, all persons could now be accepted 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. A notable manufacturer was Jacob Reeder. With the manufacturer's punch - J.L. - it's on the lower cruciform shoulder. The band ring has a -900 silver punch. The Merit Cross has been awarded about 900 times. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. 1, 1997.

Silver cross with raised, smooth edges. The inner sides of the cruciform sleeves are fine-grained. Front and back with a raised middle shield. On the upper cruciform shoulder is a pupate ear with a ribbon ring.

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:

• 35 mm wide, alternating between 3 pink and 2 dark blue stripes of 7 mm.

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Obverse: Order of Merit of the Cross of Merit of St. Michael

Reverse: Order of Merit of St. Michael Cross of Merit

Established:

February 16, 1837 by King Ludwig I.
1887 Foundation of the Cross of Merit

Awarded:

1887 – 1918

Data:

• Material: Silver
• Size: 43mm x 38mm
• Weight: 24g

estimated collector price:

570 – 600 €

OEK Number:

379