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Circular silver medal with integral loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the head and shoulders portrait of Duke Ernst II facing right in uniform in relief within a ring inscribed ‘ERNST II HERZOG VON SACHSEN-ALTENBURG•’, signed ‘MH’ for Max Haseroth of Berlin, all within a beaded border; the reverse with the ducal-crowned cipher of Duke Ernst II within a border of stylised laurel leaves with eight five-leafed roses, all within a beaded border; on original ladies bow, the face slightly age-faded, mounted with brooch bar for wear and with silver ribbon bar dated ‘1914’, a Saxon rue border above and below. The Medal was instituted on 16 September 1906 on his 80th birthday by Duke Ernst I to be awarded ‘zur Anerkennung von Verdiensten jeder Art, insbesondere solcher um dar Herzogliche Haus und das öffentliche Wohl’ (in recognition of merit in any way, particularly such as towards the Ducal House or in the public good). It was amended on 31 August 1909 following the accession of Duke Ernst II and on 31 August 1915 the ‘1914’ bar was introduced to be ‘an Personen verliehen die sich auf dem Gebiet der Wohlfahrt und Krankenpflege verdient gemacht haben’ (awarded to persons who have rendered outstanding service in the field of welfare and nursing care). The Medal was suppressed at the end of World War I in November 1918 having been awarded with ‘1914’ bar just 1,086 times, of which only 375 were to women.
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