A Fine Prussian Military Honour Medal In Silver 1814.

A large silver medal on its original silk ribbon. King Fredrick William III's Ehrenzeichen (honour medal). The inscription "VERDIENST UM DEN STAAT" (Meritorious Service to the State) which appears in the centre of the medal surrounded by a circular wreath of laurel leaves remained unchanged from its inception in 1814 until 1918. To better appreciate the reason why this particular decoration survived virtually unchanged as a continuous service award for subsequent Prussian kings and German Emperors after Friedrich Wilhelm III's death in 1840, to even include the retention of his initials, it may be helpful to understand the historical importance and context of his rule to the eventual founding of the German Empire.

In furtherance to this, King Frederick William III (1770-1840) succeeded to the throne of Prussia in 1797, at the age of 27, during the French Revolution. Fearful of the possible spread of democratic concepts to Prussia, he attempted to maintain a policy of strict neutrality in the political and military conflicts which were constantly taking place at that time between the new French republic and her bitter enemies in the long standing monarchies of Austria and England. Medal 1.5 inch across. Silver weight 25 grams approx.

Code: 20649