Circular silver-gilt medal with laterally-pierced ball for ribbon suspension; the face with the head of King Carol I facing left, circumscribed CAROLUS I REX ROMANIÆ’ (Carol I King of Romania); the reverse inscribed ‘BENE / MERENTI’ (Well Merited), a line below, all within a wreath of oak; on original ribbon mounted in the Romanian style. The medal was instituted by Royal Decree 314 on 20 February 1876 (Julian calendar) and was the first Romanian non-military award, to be given in recognition of merit in the arts, science, industry and agriculture. The original medal was circumscribed ‘CAROLUS I PRINCEPS ROMAINIAE’ as Romania was then a Principality. After 1881, when Romania became a Kingdom, the circumscription was changed to that seen on this example and the medal was slightly larger. This example, diameter 30.29mm (1.19 inches) is of the third type. The medal was suppressed on 19 July 1931 by Royal Decree 2684 and replaced by the Order of Cultural Merit. The medal is rare.
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