Schaumburg-Lippe, Principality. A Princely House Order, Silver Merit Cross, c. 1918
(Fürstlich Lippischer Hausorden Silbernes Verdienstkreuz). Instituted 25 October 1869 by Prince Paul Friedrich Emil Leopold of Lippe-Detmold and Prince Adolf Georg of Schaumburg-Lippe. (1869-1918 issue). Constructed of silver, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, with each arm completing in ball finials, the obverse bearing a central raised and crowned monogram of Prince Adolf Georg on a pebbled background, circumscribed by an institution date of “DEN XXV OCTOBER MDCCCLXIX” (“THE 22ND OF OCTOBER 1869”), the reverse bearing a central raised and crowned Schaumburg-Lippe coat of arms on a pebbled background, circumscribed by an inscription of “FÜR TREUE UND VERDIENST” (“FOR LOYALTY AND SERVICE”), unmarked, measuring 41.94 mm (w) x 46.09 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

