Alice-Medaille

The Alice Medal [Alice-Medaille], officially the Medal of Merit with the Portrait of Grand Duchess Alice [Verdienstmedaille mit dem Bildnis der Großherzogin Alice], was instituted on 25 April 1884 by Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse in memory of his wife, Grand Duchess Alice of Hesse, who had died on 14 December 1878. The medal, created by the engraver Johann Adam Ries, was made in a silver version and a bronze version. The decoration could be awarded to people closely associated with the court. Most awards went to members of the Alice Association.

The round medal depicts the bust of the Grand Duchess facing left, with the inscription ALICE GROSHERZOGIN VON HESSEN. On the reverse, enclosed by a laurel wreath, is the two-line inscription IN MEMORIAM.

The decoration was worn on the left breast on a white ribbon, or on a ladies’ bow with a broad red central stripe and light blue side stripes.