- Time Period: World War I
- Institution: 13 December 1916
- Country: Austria, Hungary, Austro-Hungarian Empire
The Civil Merit Medal is an Austro-Hungarian medal established by Emperor Karl I in 1918 to recognize extraordinary service in time of war or outstanding service in peace time by civil servants of all ranks or other civilians in support of the empire or the emperor. The medal could be awarded retroactively.
There are two classes of this award:
- Gold Civil Merit Medal
- Silver Civil Merit Medal
The Civil Merit Medal Design
The medal is round with an attached wedge shaped suspension eye. It measures 42 mm in diameter and is struck in silver gilt bronze and gold gilt bronze.
The obverse features the image of Emperor Karl in a Field Marshal’s uniform with decorations facing to the viewers left. Surrounding the image is the inscription: “CAROLVS D G IMP AVST RX BOH ETC ET H N IV APOST HVNG”. The reverse is a laurel on the left and an oak bough on the right within which is the inscription “SIGNVM LAVDIS” (“A token of esteem”) in two lines.
The ribbon is red with a white center stripe and measures 38-40 mm wide.
