Germany Schaumburg Lippe Silver Military Merit Medal 1870 with WWI Crossed Swords

Imperial Germany - Schaumburg Lippe: 
Silver Military Merit Medal 1870 type with WW1 
Crossed Swords.
The Silver Military Merit Medal was established in 
a single class in 1850 by Prince Georg Wilhelm.
It was awarded to soldiers who had earned the 
Prince's special recognition through military 
deeds in war time.
It was designed by Friedrich Brehmer and was 
produced by the Hanover Mint.
The initial awards were just 60 and the medals 
were engraved with the names of the recipients 
on the edge.
The medal was renewed in 1870 by Prince Adolf 
Georg (in the same form but without engraves 
while 2 crossed sabres (curved blades) were 
attached to the ribbon) and was bestowed to 
deserving members of the Westphalian Jäger 
(Hunter) Battalion No. 7 who fought during the 
Franco-Prussian War 1870/71. 
A total 583 awards are recorded from 1864 to 
1871.
The medal was amended once again for the Great 
War by Prince Adolf II (different suspender and 
straight blade swords like on this example or Red 
Cross device on the ribbon). 
This is a scarce combination of the medal (the 
1870 type of the medal with WW1 straight blade 
swords).
The exact number of the awards for WW1 (the 
vast majority of them was of the 3rd type of the 
medal) is not known but they should be limited 
to no more than a few hundred given that the 
Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe participated in 
the Great War with just 3 Regiments. 

FULL SIZE

1870 - WW1 1914 -1918 

Item 100% original - original ribbon

Condition as on the photos

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