Physical Description

A smooth circular medal with a raised border, constructed of bronze. The obverse features the right-facing portrait of Duke Ernst with the circular inscription ‘ERNST HERZOG VON SACHSEN ALTENBURG’ inside a pearled line. Below the neck is the artist’s signature ‘B.’ (Buschick). The reverse features the inscription ‘IN DANKBARER ERINNERUNG AN DIE BEI DEM BRANDE UNSERES SCHLOSSES ZU ALTENBURG AM 24. AUGUST 1864 ERFOLGREICH GELEISTETEN FEUERWEHRDIENSTE’, framed at the top and bottom by a four-leaf rosette each, all inside a pearled line. On a loop for suspension, on a red ribbon.

History

The Medal for Assistance in the Royal Palace Fire was introduced on September 3, 1864 by Duke Ernst I. The medal was conferred upon firefighters and civilians who provided assistance during the royal palace fire which occurred on August 24, 1864.

The medal features the rightward-facing portrait of Duke Ernst I. It was awarded to 627 recipients, including 466 members of the municipal fire department, 123 members of the court fire department, and 38 civilians.