History

The Merit Medal was founded by Prince Adolf Georg of Schaumburg-Lippe and Prince Paul Friedrich Emil Leopold of Lippe, and was conferred upon individuals who rendered meritorious services to Princely House.

In 1890, the joint House Order of Lippe, which had been founded by representatives of the Lippe-Detmold and the Lippe-Schaumburg lines, was separated, and the Gold Medal was re-designed to fit in with the newly established Princely House Order of Schaumburg-Lippe.

The Type IV medals were instituted in 1893 and feature a surmounting crown.