Physical Description

A smooth circular medal with a raised border, constructed of gold. The obverse features the left-facing portrait of Duke Wilhelm with the circular inscription ‘GUILELMUS PRINCEPS DE HOHENZOLLERN’. Below that is the stamp cutter’s signature ‘O. SCHULZ 07’. The reverse features a wreath of oak leaves, tied at the top and bottom by a crossed ribbon, with the inscription ‘BENE MERENTI’ (‘for good service’) in the centre, with a decorative line underneath.
In 1910, the small medal was made wearable and received a loop for suspension. It was worn on a white ribbon with broad brown side stripes and a narrow brown centre stripe.

History

The Bene Merenti Medal was founded without statutes 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-wearable design, but in 1910, Emperor Wilhelm II approved of the medal being made into a wearable decoration. From this point onward, the medal was conferred upon men and women associated with the princely court.

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