Item number: M510-1

Year: AD 1867-1890

Material: Gilt Bronze

Size: 18.2 x 16 x 3.4 mm

Provenance: eMedals 2026

This is a military long service decoration, instituted in AD 1849.

The obverse features a central medallion bearing the Roman numerals “XII”, denoting twelve years of completed service, framed by an oak wreath symbolic of honour and strength. This central medallion is supported by a cross with arms that gradually broaden towards concave ends. The cross arms are adorned with a stippled surface and finished with flattened edges. The reverse is plain, featuring a central rivet used to secure the obverse medallion, with matching flattened edges.

The original ribbon features a lemon-yellow ground flanked on both sides by black stripes.

The military long service decoration was established in AD 1849. The decorations awarded to non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel were more austere than those for officers, omitting the crown finial and eagle emblem. At its inception, those completing eight years of service were eligible for the first-class “VIII” decoration, whilst those completing sixteen years received the second-class “XVI” decoration. Following the integration of the Austrian Empire into the Austro-Hungarian Empire in AD 1867, twelve years of service merited the first-class “XII” decoration, and eighteen years yielded the second-class “XVIII” decoration. After AD 1869, twelve years of service conferred the first-class “XII” decoration, whereas twenty-four years conferred the second-class “XXIV” decoration. From AD 1890 onwards, the class hierarchy was inverted: twelve years of service earned the second-class “XII” decoration, while twenty-four years merited the first-class “XXIV” decoration, with the oak wreath on the central medallion being omitted. In AD 1911, a third-class “VI” decoration was introduced for six years of service. In AD 1913, the inscription for the first class was revised to “XX”, the second class to “X”, while the third class remained “VI”. The Empire collapsed in AD 1918. However, in AD 1934, the fascistic First Austrian Republic re-established this decoration to appropriate imperial symbolism, a practice that persisted until the Anschluss in AD 1938. Contemporary Austria maintains a service award, instituted in AD 1963, though its visual symbolism has been distinctly separated from that of the imperial era.

物件編號: M510-1

年代: 公元 1867-1890 年

材質: 青銅鍍金

尺寸: 18.2 x 16 x 3.4 mm

來源: eMedals 2026

這是一枚軍事長期服役飾章，於公元1849年設立。

正面中央圓蓋有拉丁數字「XII」，表服役已屆十二年，周圍以橡葉冠環繞，象徵榮譽與力量。圓蓋以十字架承托，十字各臂逐漸加寬，但各端內凹。各臂填以細點為飾，邊緣則收扁。背面則光素無文，中央有一固定正面圓蓋所用的鉚釘，邊緣則同樣收扁。

原綬帶為檸檬黃底，兩側有黑色色帶。

軍事長期服役飾章於公元1849年設立，頒予士官兵的飾章較之軍官更為簡潔，省略王冠頂飾和鷹徽。初設時凡士官兵服役滿八年者可獲一級「VIII」飾章；滿十六年者可獲二級「XVI」飾章。隨著公元1867年奧地利帝國整合為奧匈帝國，服役滿十二年者可獲一級「XII」飾章；服役滿十八年者可獲二級「XVIII」飾章。公元1869年後，服役滿十二年者可獲一級「XII」飾章；服役滿二十四年者可獲二級「XXIV」飾章。公元1890年後，級別的順序相反，服役滿十二年者可獲二級「XII」飾章；服役滿二十四年者可獲一級「XXIV」飾章，且飾章圓蓋上的橡葉冠被省略。公元1911年起，增設服役六年者可獲得的三級「VI」飾章。公元1913年，一級飾章文字改為「XX」；二級改為「X」；三級則維持「VI」公元1918年，帝國解體。但在公元1934年，法西斯化的奧地利第二共和國，為挪用帝國符號，重設此章，直至公元1938年德奧合併。當代奧地利仍有服役章，於公元1963年設立，但是視覺符號的使用已與帝國時期的有所區隔。