Royal Saxon Orders of Merit from the collection of Dresden Münzkabinett

Zivilverdienstorden /The Civil Order of Saxony/ was founded on June 7, 1815 by King Friedrich August I as a three-class order with an affiliated medal. In 1828, a version with a different inscription was introduced for foreigners. A so-called "small cross" below the Knight's Cross was founded in 1847, which was renamed the "Cross of Honor" in 1858. In 1849, order was renamed Sächsischer Verdienstorden /Saxon Order of Merit/ and the commander cross was divided into 1st and 2nd classes. On the occasion of the 1866 War, swords for merit in war were introduced for all classes of the version for domestic citizens, and in 1870 swords on a ring were introduced. In 1871, the special version for foreigners was discontinued. In 1876, further changes took place: the knight class was divided into knights of 1st and 2nd class, the Cross of Honor and the Gold and Silver Medals of Merit were abolished and the Cross of Merit was founded instead. In 1891, the so-called "model change" took place: the previously painted coats of arms were now embossed in metal and placed on the medallion; however, the Knight's Cross 2nd Class continued to be produced with painted medallions by individual manufacturers until 1918. In addition, the Grand Cross and Commander's Cross were given a crown as a surmount, and the breast star of the Grand Cross now had eight rays instead of six. From 1904, the insignias of the order were made in gold-plated silver. In 1910, the design of the insignia was simplified by making the medallion ring and field of all insignias medallions in one piece. When King Friedrich August III (1865-1932) abdicated on November 13, 1918, the order also ceased to exist.

The obverse medallion of the order shows the crowned Saxon coat of arms with the inscription FRIED.AUG.KVSACHSEN.D.7.JUN.1815. /Friedrich August, King of Saxony. June 7th, 1815/. The obverse medallion of the order is surrounded by a green enameled oak wreath with four-line inscription in the center FÜR VERDIENST UND TREUE /For Merit and Loyalty/. The model for foreigners has the inscription DEM VERDIENSTE /For Merit/.​

Breast star to the Grand Cross with Swords made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 91 mm.
Weight 73,15 g.

 

Breast star to the Grand Cross without Swords made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 92 mm.
Weight 83.21 g.

Pin marked with "S" for Scharffenberg.

 

Breast star to the Commander's /Komtur/ Cross 1st Class with Swords made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 88 mm.
Weight 70.01 g.

 

Breast star to the Commander's /Komtur/ Cross 1st Class without Swords made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 88 mm.
Weight 52.97 g.

 

Grand Cross/Commander's Cross made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 87 x 62 mm.
Weight 65.60 g.

 

Knight's Cross 1st Class /with early painted obverse medallion/ made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 44 mm.
Weight 17.59 g.

 

Knight's Cross 1st Class /with later type of obverse medallion/ with swords made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 44 mm.
Weight 24.91 g.

 

Knight's Cross 2nd Class /with early painted obverse medallion/ made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 35 mm.
Weight 14.6 g.

 

Knight's Cross 2nd Class /with later type of obverse medallion/ with swords made by Gustav Adolph Scharffenberg in Dresden.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 35 mm.
Weight 15.85 g.

 

Cross of Merit with Swords.

Silver.
Size 35 mm.
Weight 14.72 g.

 

Cross of Merit.

Silver.
Size 35 mm.
Weight 15.91 g.