Description: The war commemorative coin for the campaigns of 1870/71 was minted on 20. It was founded on 15 May 1871 by Emperor Wilhelm I for combatants and non-combatants and awarded to all members of the German armies who had taken part in a battle or a siege in the war of 1870/71 or who had crossed the border into France for military purposes, as well as to all members of the navy who had taken part in a battle in this war, and to the crew members of the SMS Augusta, who had served in the German Navy from 11 May 1870 to 1871. December 1870 to 2. March 1871 served on the ship. It is not entirely clear whether this first award, established after the founding of the German Empire, was one from the same or from the Kingdom of Prussia. While the Prussian kings never used the title of emperor when awarding Prussian medals, this commemorative coin was expressly donated by Wilhelm I as emperor with the countersignature of the Reich Chancellor and was also paid for from the Reich budget (RGBl. 1871 No. 22, p. 103; Publication No. 642); the same thing happened with later commemorative coins and medals of merit, which were also mostly donated for military actions. The ribbon colours black, white and red are also the colours of the newly created German Empire, and the blanket award to all members of the non-Prussian army contingents makes it clear that this was an honour from the German Empire. The fact that the initial on the front of this commemorative coin is crowned with the Prussian royal crown is probably due to the fact that the design of the imperial crown – which never actually existed but was only used as a symbol – had not yet been determined at that time. For combatants, the medal is made from the bronze of captured gun barrels and shows on the front the initial W (Wilhelm) surmounted by a royal crown in the middle. Below is the inscription “To the victorious army” and around it “God was with us, to Him be the glory.” The reverse shows a cross with rays between the four arms and on its central shield the years 1870 and 1871 surrounded by a laurel wreath. The medal for non-combatants is made of steel, with only minor variations. In the middle is the inscription For loyalty in war and on the reverse an oak wreath. The medal was worn on the left breast on a black ribbon with a white border and a red stripe in the middle. For non-combatants, the ribbon is the same as for the Combatant Medal, only for military officials and persons who did not belong to the armed forces, the Non-Combatant Medal was also worn on a special non-combatant ribbon, which was white with black edges and a red stripe in the middle.
Price: 39 USD
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
End Time: 2024-11-30T16:30:39.000Z
Shipping Cost: 6 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
Conflict: WW I (1914-18)
Original/Reproduction: Original
Theme: Militaria
Region of Origin: Germany
