Item number: M345

Year: AD 1908-1925

Material: Gold

Size: 65.0 x 15.4 x 1.0 mm

Weight: 4.45 g

Provenance: Denarius 2024

This is a miniature version of the “King’s Medal of Merit,” established by King Haakon VII of Norway between AD 1908 and AD 1957. The medal was created to honour citizens who made outstanding contributions in fields such as art, science, and industry. Most recipients were awarded the silver medal, while only a select few with extraordinary achievements received the gold medal. This gold medal is a privately commissioned miniature version, crafted by a jeweller on behalf of the recipient.

The obverse of the medal features a left-facing portrait of King Haakon VII, who ascended the throne in AD 1905 as the first king of an independent Norway following its separation from Sweden. Surrounding the portrait is an inscription of the king’s title and motto, “All for Norway.” Below the portrait is the signature of the Norwegian engraver Ivar Throndsen, marked as “Throndsen.”

The reverse of the medal features a wreath, with a blank space inside designated for engraving the recipient’s name and the year of the award. Around the outside of the wreath, the medal’s name, “King’s Medal of Merit,” is inscribed in Norwegian. At the top of the medal is a crown ornament, which is connected to the ribbon by a fixed circular suspension. The medal is traditionally pinned to the left chest using a red-and-yellow striped ribbon, symbolising the royal family.

Haakon VII was the second son of the King of Denmark and a Swedish princess. In AD 1905, after Norway peacefully separated from Sweden, the newly independent Norway sought a noble to assume the role of king. Due to his lineage, as his ancestors had ruled Norway during its earlier periods of independence, and his marriage to a British princess aligning with Norway’s desire to strengthen diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom, Haakon VII was invited by the Norwegian Parliament to become the King of Norway.

物件編號: M345

年代: 公元 1908-1925 年

材質: 黃金

尺寸: 65.0 x 15.4 x 1.0 mm

重量: 4.45 g

來源: 第納里烏斯 2024

這是公元1908年至1957年，時任挪威國王的哈康七世創立之「國王功績獎章」，旨在獎勵在藝術、科學和工業等領域有傑出貢獻的公民。多數受獎者僅獲得銀質獎章，僅少數具備非凡貢獻的人士方能得到金質獎章。這枚金質獎章為得獎者委託珠寶商製造的迷你版。

獎章正面為公元1905年，登基為自瑞典獨立出來的挪威首任國王哈康七世左側肖像，周圍的銘文是國王頭銜和座右銘「一切都是為了挪威」。人像下緣是挪威籍雕刻家艾佛·特隆德森的姓名戳記「Throndsen」。

獎章背面有一個花環，內部的空間是鐫刻得獎者姓名和獲獎年份的留白處。花環外部以挪威文鐫刻獎章的名稱「國王功績獎章」。獎章上方有一頂皇冠裝飾，皇冠裝飾以固定環形懸掛銜接綬帶。獎章以象徵王室的紅黃相間綬帶別在左胸。

哈康七世為丹麥國王和瑞典公主的次子。公元1905年，當挪威跟瑞典以和平的方式分開之後，新興的挪威需要找一位貴族擔任國王。因為祖上曾經擔任挪威獨立時期的國王，和夫人出身於英國恰好符合挪威欲拉攏英國的外交方針，因此挪威議會邀請哈康七世出任挪威國王。