Schwarzburg-Rudolfstadt Silver War Merit Medal

[Stijn David]

Hello

Please find attached a small medalbar from a brave WWI Soldier who has his origins in the small "Fürstentum"of Schwarzburg-Rudolfstadt. Any opinions on the medal itself? Early Issue? late Issue? etc.  The Medal is non magnetic and appears to be silver.

Thanks in advance

Stijn

[dedehansen]

Hi Stijn,

if it is silver, it should be an early award.

Kind regards

Andreas

[tompress]

Agreed, an early silver one. Later issues were made of zinc (see pictures below).

PS. Small correction: this medal is common for both principialties: Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, which were in personal union under rule of prince Günther Victor since 1909

[Stijn David]

Hi

THank you and thank you for showing your late war example. Stunning piece also!

Cordial greetings,

[Dave Danner]

Between the silver and the zinc versions, there were also some silvered bronze versions.

[Stijn David]

Hi Dave

Thank you for this additional information! Are the ROlls actually listed and written down for researchers for these medals at this point? I can probably get my hands on them.

Cordial greetings

[Dave Danner]

There is no single roll for the Medal for Merit in War. They are included in a master roll of all Schwarzburg awards from the early 1800s on. This "roll" is a book which is about two feet in height and which I could not even open without propping up a stack of other books next to it.

I have compiled the rolls for the Ehrenkreuz from 1909 (when Fürst Günther Victor became ruler of both principalities) to 1918, including awards with swords and with the Eichenbruch.  For these, there were separate rolls. I also compiled a partial list of the Ehrenmedaille with Eichenbruch, but there was only a roll for one of the principalities. Also, some ephemera like the Sondershausen Rettungsmedaille, one of the rarest German awards (19 awards between 1868 and 1918). These are in the process of being published.

[Stijn David]

Hi Dave

Thank you! A wonderfull job for sure.  As i understand it correct the Silver Medals are not yet listed seperatly at this point?  If not i might do it in the future to get this one also completely listed. (I have done it before on a more extensive roll => the Altenburg Bravery medal)

Cordial greetings