Physical Description

A circular medal with a raised border, constructed of cannon bronze. The obverse features a wreath of laurel on the left and oak leaves on the right on a smooth background, tied at the bottom by a ribbon, with the crowned monogram ‘F’ in the centre, and below the inscription ‘GESTIFTET AM 4. IUNI 1850’ (founded on June 4th, 1850). The reverse the same wreath, but with the inscription ‘FÜR TREUEN DIENST IM KRIEGE’ (for loyal service in war). On a loop for suspension, on a ribbon with five red and four white stripes.
Examples that were privately gilded exist.

History

The Field Honour Decoration, 1850 was instituted by Landgrave Ferdinand and was conferred upon military personnel who participated in the 1849 campaign against Denmark in Schleswig-Holstein. Only 203 men from Hesse-Homburg participated in the campaign and as such, this medal is very rare.

The medal was designed by Professor Christian Schnitzspahn from Hesse-Darmstadt.

There are privately manufactured examples of the medal that are composed of silver gilt.