WW1 ERA KINGDOM OF BULGARIA ORDER OF CIVIL MERIT, 5TH CLASS CASED MEDAL

Offered is an original WW1 era Kingdom of Bulgaria Order of Cvili Merit, 5th Class in case.

50mm wide silver-edged white-enamelled Urdy cross with silver oak leaves and acorns between the arms, on laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with a circular central red enamel medallion bearing the monogram ‘ФI’ for Ferdinand I, institutor of the Order, within a white enamel ring inscribed in silver letters ‘ЭА ГРАЖДАНСКА ЗАСЛУГА’ (for Civil Merit); the reverse with a circular central red enamel medallion bearing the Bulgarian lion rampant with a shield with the Saxon coat of arms imposed on its breast within a white enamel ring inscribed in silver letters with the date ‘2 ABГУCTЪ 1891’ (2 August 1891); on original trifold ribbon; in original fitted embossed case of issue with a few contact marks.

The Order for Civil Merit was instituted on 2 August 1891 to be conferred only on civilians and for exemplary service or acts of merit earning the gratitude of the country. This example is from the reign of Ferdinand I, after the proclamation of the kingdom when the crown suspension changed from the ‘Knyaz’ (Princely) form to the ‘Tsar’ form, and thus from the period 1908-1918. A very fine example.