SINCONA Auction 67

Description

Ducal Saxon-Ernestine House Order. 2nd model (without ciphers on the upper cross arm - 1864-1935), Commander 1st class [Komtur 1. Klasse], breast star for civil merit (with oak leaves’ wreath), diam. 86.9 mm, silver, the star made of four pieces soldered together, centre gold and enamels, with pin. OEK22 2368.
Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden. 2. Modell (ohne Monogramme auf dem oberen Kreuzarm - 1864-1935), Stern zum Komtur 1. Klasse für Zivilverdienst (mit Eichenblatt-Kranz), Durchmesser 86,9 mm, Silber, gefertigt aus vier zusammengelöteten Strahlenkörpern, Medaillon Gold tlw. Emailliert, Chips in der grünen Emaille, an Nadel. OEK22 2368.
Gutes sehr schön / Good very fine.
(~€ 1’870/USD 2’200)
Instituted on December 25, 1833, as originally four-class (Grand Cross, Commander 1st and 2nd class and Knight, with affiliated Cross of Merit and Medal of Merit), joint house order for civil and military merit by Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (1763-1834, reigned since 1787), Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1784-1844, reigned since 1806), and Bernhard II, Erich Freund, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (1800-1882, reigned from 1803 until1866), in commemoration of the Order of the German Honesty [Orden der Teutschen Redlichkeit], instituted in 1690 by Duke Friedrich of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1646-1691, reigned since 1675). Every Duchy had its own type of insignia, showing the reigning duke’s cipher on the upper cross arm (1st model). In 1864 this differentiation was abolished, and so the insignia were standardized, and the collar of the order, the Knights Cross 2nd class and the Gold Medal for Merit were introduced (2nd model). As the order was a house order of the Saxe-Ernestine Ducal families, also after the collapse of monarchy, Duke Carl Eduard of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1884-1954, reigned from 1905 until 1918) continued to confer it until 1935, when the bestowals were prohibited by the German Government. Today the order is awarded again as a house order by the Prince and head of the ducal family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, probably only in its Grand Cross class, at an unknown date upon King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (born 1946, reigning since 1973).