Kingdom of Bavaria (1806 - 1918), Civil Merit Medal. The fourth version of the third type. This one was probably made between 1870 and 1900. The ring is a modern addition, but anyway many pre-1918 Bavarian medals (including the Civil Merit Medal) were issued without ring and ribbon, which the recipient had to buy himself. The first type was a non-wearable silver medal, instituted by the Prince Elector Carl Theodor of Bavaria (1724-1799). Prince Elector (later king) Maximilian Joseph (1756-1825) instituted a gold and silver, wearable medal for merit during the 1805 war against Austria. This was the 2nd type, with "Kurfürst [Prince Elector] Maximilian Ioseph" on the obverse. There are four versions of the 3rd type: The first version has the title "Koenig" [king] instead of "Kurfürst" . On the second version, it's spelled "König". On the reverse of the third version (at the end of the 1840s), the wreath is thinner than on the earlier and later types. The fourth version is shown above. Material: Ag Diameter: 36 mm Weight: 20 g Thickness : 2,7 mm
Kingdom of Württemberg (1806 - 1918), silver Civil Merit Medal with portrait of King Karl. This is the first type, with the punchcutter's name Schnitzspan at the bottom of the obverse (1865 - 1879). The second type (1879 - 1892) does not have this name. The medal is well worn and is slightly bent at the top. The pictures give the impression that a new small ring has been soldered to the medal, but it's still the original one. The larger loop ring may be a replacement, though. Despite the poor condition, this is one of my favourite medals in my collection because it has so much charm. Württemberg only instituted a lifesaving medal in 1897. Before that, heroes who saved a life were awarded the silver (or gold) civil merit medal (source: https://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de). This was probably also the case with the Bavarian lifesaving medal (instituted in 1889) and the Bavarian civil merit medal (shown above). After the Second World War, the kingdom of Württemberg and the duchy of Baden voluntarily merged into the federal state Baden-Württemberg. Material: Ag Diameter: 28 mm Weight : 12 g Thickness: 2 mm
Kingdom of Württemberg, silver Charlottenkreuz ("Charlotte Cross"). Instituted in 1916 and awarded for merit in the care of the wounded.
1) Flood Service medal, instituted on 8th May 1962 and awarded by the city of Hamburg for aid during the North Sea flood of 1962. This medal was meant for flood relief workers who were not citizens of Hamburg, since according to the Hanseatic tradition these are not allowed to accept and wear decorations. Hamburg also awarded flood medals in 1997 and 2002. Material: BRZ Diameter: 33 mm Weight: 16 g Thickness : 1,9 mm 2-3) Flood service medals awarded by the federal state of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony). The two 1962 versions pictured above are 35 mm in diameter. 4) 2002 edition of the Lower Saxony flood medal (30 mm). A similar medal was also awarded in 2013.
Three post-1945 German medals: 1) German commemoration medal for deployment as security, police or stand-by forces etc. during the G8-summit in Heiligendamm, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in 2007. Awarded to soldiers of the Bundeswehr as well as to volunteers from several civil defence and humanitarian organizations. What I like about this medal is that there's so much history behind it. The G8 has been renamed G7 since Russia is no longer part of it; the summit took place in former Eastern Germany, which now has been reunified with the BRD, and so on... The ribbon shows not the colours of the flag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but those of the flag of Mecklenburg and those of the flag of Vorpommern separately. Material: non-ferrous metal (?) Diameter: 36 mm Weight: 18 g Thickness: 2,2 mm 2) Medal of the German state Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate) for merit, i.e. for unsalaried work in the field of culture, sports, philanthropy, and so on. Instituted in 1996. 3) Non-wearable medal for outstanding merit, awarded by the Minister for Food, Agriculture and Forests. Nordrhine-Westphalia, probably 1960s. 50 mm in diameter. Of little value on the collecting market, but I like it a lot. Material: BRZ(?) Diameter: 50 mm Weight: 50 g Thickness : 3 mm
Danish silver Civil Merit Medal, awarded under the reign of Frederick the ninth (1947-1972). Awarded to a (German?) woman, since it's marked on the edge MARIE ELISABETH SCHLÄGER. Material: Ag Diameter: 37,5 mm Weight: 38 g Thickness : 3,4 mm
Belgian (lifesaving) medal "for courage and self sacrifice". 3rd class. Probably 1960s. The obverse and reverse are identical. Awarded to Belgians or foreigners who saved the life of a Belgian citizen. Originally instituted in 1867. The medal itself is identical to the Belgian award for long service in administration. However, the award for long service has three rather than two black stripes on the ribbon, without yellow edges. Material: BRZ(?) Diameter: 30-35 mm Weight: 19 g Thickness : 2 mm
Belgian Labour Decoration second class, in a frame with the award document. Awarded to a "Benonia Van Daele" (a woman) in 1949. Here is the Wikipedia page about this medal. It was difficult to make a good picture while at the same time avoiding reflection of the glass. The Labour Decoration is cheap and common and it's nothing that many collectors get excited about. Still, it's interesting to be able to put a name and a date on a Belgian medal, as they are usually anonymous.
Medal of the University of Leuven (Louvain, Belgium), intended as a promotional gift. I have a medal like this in my collection, but the pictures are taken from https://www.kuleuven.be/shop. Incidentally, the gift shop I bought this medal from is located in the University Hall, which was used as the university library until it was almost completely burned down by the German army in 1914. My PhD defense was even planned to take place in that historic building, but it was eventually moved to another location.
Belgian (Flemish) medal commemorating the Passion Play of the Holy Blood in Bruges in August 1947. The Passion play took place every 5 years and was performed in 1938, 1939, 1947, 1952, 1957 and 1962. Not to be confused with the Procession of the Holy Blood, which still takes place every year in the same city. Diederich van den Elzas, depicted on the obverse, was a crusader who is said to have brought the holy blood to Europe from (what is now) Israel. 69 mm in diameter. There is a mark on the edge of the medal but I haven't deciphered it yet.
Belgian medal of the Red Cross, awarded to blood donors. Probably 1960's or 1970's. The device on the ribbon indicates that the recipient had donated blood 40 times.
The first two pictures show the Austrian golden medal of the Federal Order of Merit. Probably 1960s. Made of bronze and with a red and white ribbon. There is also a silver medal. If the golden medal has a ribbon that is entirely red (apart from the fringes), it is the Austrian lifesaving medal. The last pictures show an Austrian civil medal for meritorious service in a municipal council in the Federal State of Salzburg. Probably 1980s. Apparently, it is no longer being awarded as of 2019.