IdentifyMedals Logo

Category: Pre-WW1 Medals

The Order of Franz Joseph

The Imperial Austrian Order of Franz Joseph was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I on the 1st anniversary of his accession to the throne.

The Imperial Austrian Order of Franz Joseph (or Kaiserlich-Österreichischer Franz-Joseph-Orden in German) was an Order founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria on December 2, 1849, on the first anniversary of his accession to the imperial throne.

The order was originally awarded in three classes: Grand Cross, Commander’s Cross, and Knight’s Cross. In 1869, the class of Commander with Star was added, which ranked immediately below the Grand Cross. On February 1, 1901, the Officer’s Cross, which ranked between Commander and Knight, was introduced.

The order ceased to exist as a governmental award with the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and was not re-established with the foundation of the Republic of Austria. However, it remains active as a dynastic order of the House of Habsburg.

The Order of Franz Joseph Design

Knights wore the decoration suspended from a triangular ribbon on the left breast. Officers wore it on the left breast without a ribbon. Commanders wore the decoration at the neck, as did Commander with Star, who also wore a breast star. The Grand Cross was worn suspended from the shoulder and also came with a breast star. The ribbon of all classes of the order was plain red.

In common with the other Austro-Hungarian awards of the period, the Franz Joseph Order was further distinguished with the addition of the War decoration and Swords which could be awarded for military merit. However, if soldiers were honored, it was usually for distinguished service as opposed to gallantry in the face of the enemy.

The Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold

The Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold (Österreichisch-kaiserlicher Leopold-Orden) was founded on 8 January 1808 by Franz I of Austria.

The Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold (or Österreichisch-kaiserlicher Leopold-Orden in German) was founded on 8 January 1808 by Franz I of Austria.

The order’s statutes stipulated only three grades: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. During the war, crossed swords were instituted to reward bravery in the face of the enemy. An Imperial Decree of 1 February 1901 ordered that then onwards, there were four ranks:

  • Grand Cross.
  • First Class.
  • Commander.
  • Knight.

Until 18 July 1884, the award of the order also entitled the recipient, if he was not already of that standing, to be raised to the following appointments and/or ranks of the nobility:

  • Grand Cordon: Privy Councillor.
  • Commander: Baron.
  • Knight: Ritter.

After 1918, the Order was no longer awarded.

The Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold Design

The badge of the Order consists of a red enameled gold cross, with white enamel edging. The obverse displays the initials “FIA” in gold on a red enamel background. The Cross is surmounted by a golden Emperors’ Crown.

The ribbon was red with two narrow white side-stripes. The Grand Cross could also be awarded with diamonds.

Both the Grand Cross and the First Class Members of the Order wore their orders in the form of a sash with the Order attached to the Bow and respectively an eight-pointed and a four-pointed breast Star on formal occasions. The Commanders’ Cross was worn to the neck, suspended from a 52 mm wide ribbon; the Knight wore his Order on a triangular ribbon on the left breast.

The Mottoes of the Order were “INTEGRITATI ET MERITO” and “OPES REGUM CORDA SUBDITORUM“.

The Order of the Iron Crown (Austria)

The Imperial Order of the Iron Crown was was established in 1815 by Franz I as one of the highest orders of merit of Austria-Hungary.

The Imperial Order of the Iron Crown (or Kaiserlicher Orden der Eisernen Krone in German) was one of the highest orders of merit of Austria and Austria-Hungary until 1918. It was established in 1815 by Emperor Franz I of Austria. Appointment to the third or second class of the Order of the Iron Crown became one of the main routes to ennoblement for Austrian bourgeois families and for civil servants and military officers.

The order had three classes and until 1884 all classes conferred automatic hereditary ennoblement. The first class conferred the title of Privy Councillor, the style of Excellency, and the right to attend court. The second class conferred the rank of Baron. The third class conferred the rank of Ritter.

The order could also be awarded to foreigners.

The Order of the Iron Crown Design

The medal bears an imperial eagle set within a representation of the Iron Crown of Lombardy. From 1908 for First Class knights, and from 1917 for Second Class knights, members were authorized to wear a Third Class military medal on the left breast, with an addition of a device known as a “Kleine Dekoration”. The pin device was a miniature version of the First Class breast star, and was worn on the center of the ribbon.

The Second Class Kleine Dekoration was a miniature depiction of the Iron Crown of Lombardy. For knights, it was a crown only for peacetime award, crown encircled by a wreath for the war decoration, and topped with swords for those awards “with swords”, and was worn in the same fashion as that of the First Class knights. Ordinary knights medals were also frequently adorned with crossed swords, pinned to the trifold ribbon.

The ribbon colors changed from the Imperial French gold and green to the Imperial Austrian gold and royal blue. Grand Cross (French) and First Class (Austrian) knights wore a sash and badge over the right shoulder, with an eight-pointed star on the left breast. Imperial French knight commanders wore a traditional military-style medal on the left chest, with a bow in the center of the ribbon. Imperial Austrian Second Class knights wore the medal suspended from a ribbon about the neck. French ordinary knights and Austrian Third Class knights wore a traditional military medal on the left chest.

The Military Order of Maria Theresa

The Military Order of Maria Theresa was the highest military honor of the Habsburg Monarchy, Austrian Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Military Order of Maria Theresa (or “Militär-Maria-Theresien-Orden” in German and “Katonai Mária Terézia-rend” in Hungarian) was the highest military honor of the Habsburg Monarchy, Austrian Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is considered to be the highest honor for a soldier in the Austrian armed services.

The order was founded on 18 June 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by Empress Maria Theresa, and awarded for especially meritorious and valorous acts by commissioned officers, especially the act of defeating an enemy, and thus “serving” their monarch.

Because the Order was given for “successful military acts of essential impact to a campaign that was undertaken on [the officer’s] own initiative and might have been omitted by an honorable officer without reproach“, this gave rise to a popular myth that it was awarded for (successfully) acting against an explicit order.

The Military Order of Maria Theresa Classes

The Order of Theresa consisted of several classes, each representing a different level of distinction and honor. Originally, the order had two classes: Knight’s Cross and Grand Cross.

On 15 October 1765, Emperor Joseph II added a Commander’s Cross, and a breast star to be worn by holders of the Grand Cross. The three classes are, then:

The three classes of the Order of Maria Theresa and their insignia.
The three classes of the Order of Maria Theresa and their insignia.

  1. Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz): The lowest class was awarded to officers and soldiers who had displayed acts of bravery, courage, or exceptional service on the battlefield. 

  2. Commander’s Cross (Komturkreuz): The next higher class of the order was awarded to officers who had demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic skill, or distinguished service in combat. 

  3. Grand Cross (Großkreuz): The highest and most prestigious class of the Military Order of Maria Theresa was reserved for generals, field marshals, and other high-ranking military leaders who had achieved extraordinary accomplishments or held positions of great responsibility. 

The Military Order of Maria Theresa Design

The badge of the order is a gilt, white-enameled cross. The central disc bears the coat-of-arms or national flag of Austria, surrounded by a white ring bearing the motto “Fortitudini” (“For Courage“).

The star of the order is a silver faceted cross of the same shape as the badge, with a wreath of green-enameled oak leaves between the arms of the cross. The central disc is the same as the one on the badge.

The ribbon is red-white-red, inspired by the national flag of Austria.

By class:

  • Recipients of the Knight’s Cross were entitled to wear a medal consisting of a Maltese cross with a central medallion depicting the profile of Empress Maria Theresa surrounded by a laurel wreath.
  • Recipients of the Commander’s Cross wore a larger version of the medal, often with additional embellishments such as oak leaves or swords to denote further acts of valor.
  • Recipients of the Grand Cross wore a significantly larger medal, often adorned with additional decorations and worn around the neck on a ribbon of crimson.
Franz Josef I wearing the Grand Cross sash and star
Franz Josef I wearing the Grand Cross sash and star.

The Royal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen

The Order of Saint Stephen was an order of knighthood named after Hungary’s most famous king, Stephen I, who reigned between 997 and 1038.

The Order of Saint Stephen (or “Szent István rend” in Hungarian) was an order of knighthood founded by Maria Theresa in 1764 and named after Hungary’s most famous king, Stephen I, who reigned between 997 and 1038. Membership was available to various members of the Hungarian nobility.

Stephen I consolidated the monarchy, established of the medieval state of Hungary and adopted Christianity as the state religion. He was canonized by Pope Gregory VII in 1083 along with his son Imre. Saint Stephen is considered the patron saint of “Hungary, kings, the death of children, masons, stonecutters, and bricklayers.”

In 1938, Miklós Horthy took the rights and activities of Grand Master as Regent of Hungary, changing its name to The Royal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen. The Order was terminated at the time of the proclamation of the Republic of Hungary in 1946, but recreated again in 2011 as the Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen, and to this day remains the highest order in Hungary.

The Royal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen Design

The Grand Cross

For ceremonial purposes, a full set of crimson and green robes, lined with ermine, were prescribed (or a sash for every-day wear). A collar of gold was worn about the neck and shoulders, with the badge of the Order suspended from the collar. During the waning days of the monarchy, a less formal option was also authorized: a miniature of the breast star that could be affixed to the center of the ribbon of an ordinary knight’s cross and was worn on the left breast with other orders and military medals, in order of precedence.

Knights Commander

The informal wear of the miniature, gold, Crown of Saint Stephen was worn on an ordinary knight’s cross and worn on the left breast with other orders and military medals, in order of precedence.

Knights

Wore the badge of the Order, suspended from a tri-fold ribbon of crimson, edged in green, on the left breast with other orders and military medals, in order of precedence.

The Kittanning Destroyed Medal

The Kittanning Destroyed Medal was the very first military medal in North America. It was awarded for courage and bravery.

The Kittanning Destroyed Medal is the first documented medal engraved and struck for military honor in British North America. It was established by order of the Corporation of the City of Philadelphia and presented by Mayor Attwood Shute to Colonel John Armstrong.

Armstrong had led the Second Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment against the Indian village of Kittanning on September 8, 1756, in retaliation for the raiding and burning of Fort Granville approximately a month before.

Armstrong and his officers received silver medals. Later, his non-commissioned officers accepted medals struck in bronze, while the enlisted soldiers collected theirs in pewter.

The last strike from the original dies was most likely in the early 1860s and, although the medal has been restruck for many of America’s commemorative anniversaries and celebrations, the dates have rarely been recorded.

The Kittanning Destroyed Medal continues to be reproduced and admired because it provides narration, perspective charm, commemoration, image, beauty, and longevity. It was the very first military medal in North America awarded for courage and bravery, predating the Badge of Military Merit or Purple Heart by approximately twenty-five years.

The Kittanning Destroyed Medal Design

The medal is circular and struck in silver, bronze or pewter medal. It measures 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm) in diameter. The
medals were engraved by Edward Duffield, a watchmaker, and struck by Joseph Richardson, a noted silversmith.

The obverse shows the battle at Kittanning. Colonel Armstrong is directing his men through the stockade surrounding the Delaware village of Kittanning, and there’s a man prostrate on the ground before them. In the background, the Indian village is burning. The image is surrounded by the inscription “KITTANNING DESTROYED BY COL. ARMSTRONG.” The exergue reads: “SEPTEMBER . 8 . / 1756.”

The reverse portrays the Philadelphia Corporation’s coat of arms surrounded by the inscription “THE GIFT OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA“.

The Portrait Medal of Cosimo de’ Medici

The Portrait Medal of Cosimo de’ Medici celebrates Cosimo I de’Medici and is the earliest example of item created by the Florentine school.

The Portrait Medal of Cosimo de’ Medici celebrates Cosimo I de’Medici (1389-1464) and is the earliest example of a product created by the Florentine school.

Cosimo I was the head of the de’Medici family, a family of bankers who were the de facto rulers of Florence during most of the Italian Renaissance. He was granted the title Pater Patriae by the Florentine Signoria after his death on 1 August 1464.

The idea of a ʽportraitʼ on coins, as well as the title pater patriae, was inspired by the rediscovery of Roman coins in the Renaissance (medieval coinage did not have portraits). Ancient coins were the subject of interest and intense study among scholars from the early fifteenth century onwards, and admired by humanists for their large size, their high relief, and the use of bronze.

The Portrait Medal of Cosimo de' Medici Design

The medal was not produced after 1469, and the effigy on the obverse was copied from the manuscript by Francesco del Chierico (Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Ms Plut. 84, I, c. 3), and on behalf of Piero di Lorenzo de’Medici. Although many different artists have been proposed for the medal’s creator, for example Niccolò di Forzore Spinelli, Donatello, Michelozzo, Cristoforo di Geremia, and Bertoldo di Giovanni, the question concerning the author’s identity remains a mystery.

The obverse of the medal bears the bust of Cosimo I in profile, facing left. He’s wearing a flat beret (proper for persons of high rank) and a buttoned cloak. A circular legend in Roman capitals reads: “MAGNVS COSMVS MEDICES P(RIMVS) P(ATER) P(ATRIAE).”

The reverse shows a female figure allegoric of Florence (inspired by Graeco-Roman coins depicting Concordia), seated on a throne. The exergue reads “FLORENTIA“. She’s wearing a peplos and is veiled, likely as a sign of mourning for Cosimo. She holds an olive branch in her left hand, and her right is stretching forward and grasping a globe – which might recall the Medici family emblem. The circular legend of the reverse reads “PAX LIBERTASQVE PVBLICA“.

The Order for Civil and Military Merit (Tuscany)

The Order for Civil and Military Merit is a military order of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The medal is struck in gold.

The Order for Civil and Military Merit is a military order of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. 

The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed from 1569 to 1859, succeeding the Duchy of Florence. In the 19th century, it had a population of about 1,815,000 inhabitants.

The order was established to recognize significant contributions in both civil and military fields, reflecting the Grand Duchy’s rich history and commitment to honoring exemplary service and achievements within its territories.

The Long Service Decoration Design

The medal is struck in gold and reads “MERITO MILITARE” (“Military Merit“). The initials in the obverse are those of Leopoldo II. The reverse is plain.

The Order of Saint Stephen (Tuscany)

The Order of Saint Stephen is a Roman Catholic Tuscan dynastic military order created by Cosimo I de’ Medici and approved by Pope Pius IV.

The Order of Saint Stephen (or “Sacro Militare Ordine di Santo Stefano Papa e Martire”, “Holy Military Order of St. Stephen Pope and Martyr“) is a Roman Catholic Tuscan dynastic military order founded in 1561. The order is dedicated to the martyred Pope Stephen I, whose feast day is 2 August – the date that coincides with Cosimo’s victories at the Battle of Montemurlo and the Battle of Marciano (Scannagallo).

The order was created by Cosimo I de’ Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany with the approbation of Pope Pius IV on 1 October 1561. The order was permanently abolished in 1859 by the annexation of Tuscany to the Kingdom of Sardinia, with the last member of the Medici dynasty to be a leader being Gian Gastone de Medici in 1737. 

The objective of the order was to fight the Ottoman Turks and the pirates that sailed the Mediterranean Sea in the 16th century. Cosimo needed a symbolic fight to unite the nobility of the different cities that conformed his new grand duchy, as well as to demonstrate his support of the Roman Catholic Church. It was present at the siege of Malta (1565), the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and the capture in 1607 of Annaba in Algeria.

Initially, the Order was financed by the Grand Duke. Later and thanks to prudent purchases of agricultural estates, it increased its heritage by becoming one of the major wheat producers and merchants of Tuscany. Before being enrolled in the Order, three years of novitiate had to be followed, during which notions of geometry, cosmography, arithmetic, drawing, cartography, history and practice of firearms were taught and tested.

Today, Archduke Sigismund, Grand Duke of Tuscany awards an Order of Saint Stephen which he claims to be a continuation of the order founded by Grand Duke Cosimo I. Some 80 individuals are currently associated with this order.

The Order of Saint Stephen Design

The badge of the order is shaped like a star, struck in silver with a thin sheet of gold (not gold plated), and decorated with red enamels. It’s surmounted by a golden crown.

The Second Class Star (pictured above) measures 63mm by 64mm.

The ribbon is red.

The Order of Saint Joseph (Tuscany)

The Order of Saint Joseph was instituted in 1807 by Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany and awarded for services towards culture.

The Order of Saint Joseph was instituted in 1807 by Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany (during his reign as Grand Duke of Würzburg), and transformed in 1817 into a Tuscan Roman Catholic Dynastic Order. It is awarded for services towards Tuscan culture and civilization and to the Grand Ducal House as a whole.

The order was originally divided into civil and military categories, although these are now defunct. It is now divided into three levels:

  • Knights Grand Cross (30 members),
  • Commander (60 members), and
  • Knights (150 members).

Sovereigns, Heads of State, and Princes of the Grand Ducal House and other Royal Houses, Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church and Tuscan Metropolitan Archbishops were excluded form the count. All members had to be Catholics and the number of women could not exceed fifty (excluding Princesses of the Grand Ducal and other Royal Houses, wives of Heads of State and Dames of the Order of Saint Stephen).

The Order of Saint Joseph Design

The medal is struck in gold with white enamels. It measures 38.02 mm (w) x 57.01 mm (h – inclusive of ring suspension) and weighs 14.7 g. The shape of the medal is a six-armed cross with ball finials and exhibits three delicate red-enameled gold rays between in each quadrant. The cross is surmounted by a classic royal crown in gold.

The obverse depicts, in gold, a figure of St. Joseph surrounded by the Latin inscription “Ubique Similitus” (or “Everywhere the Same”) with a red-enameled border. The reverse, also in gold, bears the inscription “S J F 1807”(the date of institution).

The ribbon is red with white edges.