This guide will address only the Hungarian 1848-49 Order of Civilian Merit 2nd Class. The Hungary 1848-49 Order of Military Merit 2nd Class (Az 1848-1849-es Magyar Katonai Érdemrend ideiglenes II or the Ungarischer Verdienstorden II. Klasse) was established in 1849 for civilian merit during the 28 September 1848 - 2 May 1849 Hungarian War of Independence as a non-combatant.   As Hungary's highest civilian award (in 3 classes), it was awarded retroactive to 1848 and appears to be very short lived, being obsolete by the 1860s.  It appears to have been very rarely awarded.  This is a fairly complicated history and I recommend reading about this War so the significance of these awards are more clear. 

Hungarian 1848-49 Order of Civilian Merit 2nd Class (Illustration purposes only)

The contemporary issued (1849-ca. 1850) Order of Civilian Merit 2nd Class was of silver alloy with a a double cross which is inserted into a crown and mounted on 3 hills and mounted on a horizontal red ribbon (approximately 30 to 40 mm high by 80 to 100 mm wide).  One modern copy has a crowned shield with 1/2 of the shield being 8 horizontal bands of alternating red and white with the other 1/2 being a white double cross on a red background which is inserted into a crown and mounted on 3 green hills.   It is exactly the same as the Hungarian Order of Military Merit 2nd Class but lacking the wreath device (also called the War Decoration, kriegsdekoration or KD but this is not specified in Hungarian).  The contemporary issued Order of Civilian Merit 2nd Class was sewn onto the coat or jacket left inline with the 2nd button (or in that area near the heart) and centered.  If the 3rd Class was awarded, it was added onto the uniform approximately 50 mm away from the 3rd Class.  To date, I've only noted only 2 passing references to this award but the award documents are maintained by the Hungarian National Archives.  I suspect that these exist but are probably misidentified as jewelry brooches.

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