Prus. Kingdom, Original Napoleonic Wars Campaign Medal for 1813-14 with Ribbon

Description

German States, Kingdom of Prussia
Original Prussian Napoleonic Wars Campaign Medal for 1813-14,
(Kriegsdenkmünze für Kämpfer 1813-14)
.
This campaign medal was issued on December 24, 1813 by Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III.
Together with this medal the medals for separate 1813 and 1814 campaigns were issued.
The version for 1815 campaign was issued later on October 30, 1815.
This award was given to those fighters who participated in the liberation war against Napoleon in 1813 and 1814
and who really fought. Prerequisite was the faithful service and no offense or excess during the fighting.
In addition to the Iron Cross, which was reserved to a limited amount of the bravest fighters,
Frederick William III wanted to award all others that helped to fight against the occupiers.
This medal started the modern campaign medal era in which every participant regardless of rank got a medal.
Medals were made with round cross arms (so-called Paris production) and with sharp-edged cross arms
(so-called Berlin production). The medals with round-edged cross arms are considered as earliest,
because 1815 campaign medals, known to be issued and struck later, exist only with sharp-edged cross arms.
The story goes that in 1814 King wanted to decorate his soldiers on the marching-in-parade in Paris.
So the former imperial french mint in Paris got the order to struck as fast as they could the 1813, 1813/1814
and 1814 medals. These medals were struck with a wrong reverse, showing the cross with rounded shape.
Then the tools went to Berlin and the production was continued with the corrected tools.
The medal offered in this auction is an awarded example of Berlin production with straight cross arms
and with the rim inscription "AUS EROBERTEM GESCHUTZ" (from captured cannons).
Material: Cannon bronze.
Diameter: 29,1 mm
Weight: ca. 15,2 g (without ribbon)
Heavily worn condition with some dents on obverse side, as seen on photos.
Comes mounted on a short piece of original ribbon (UV NEGATIVE).
100% original medal.
Worldwide shipping as 1st class registered letter for
.00.
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