History

Established by King Frederick VI, this medal is awarded in silver to recognize individuals who have saved someone from drowning in the circumstance that both the rescuer and person drowning are in great danger, and awarded in gold to recognize higher acts of extraordinary rescues.

The obverse of the medal was altered with each reigning monarch, and in 1881 the reverse of the medal was changed to the same design as the one currently in use.

The initial obverse inscription was written in Latin, and later models had obverse inscriptions in Danish.

The rim of the medal is engraved with the recipients name.

If the medal is conferred twice, the additional medal awarded is "The Medal for Noble Deeds".

During the reign of King Frederik VI, four different obverse designs were instituted and utilized.