History

The Bene Merenti Medal was founded without statues by Prince Carl Anton in 1857, and was initially intended to reward meritorious achievements in the fields of art and science. It ranked between the Silver Merit Cross and the Golden Medal of Honour of the House Order.

The medal originally had a non-potable design, but in 1910, Kaiser Wilhelm II approved of the medal being made into a wearable award. From this point onward, the Medal was conferred upon men and women associated with the princely court.

The Type IV medals featured the portrait of Prince Wilhelm on the obverse.