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**Bill D.** · 11-05-2003, 11:39 AM

My german isn't great, but as I read the obverse, it seems to be an honor award for service. The reverse definitely gives it a university affiliation, in latin.

I would guess that perhaps it was an honor award for service to the university, perhaps something given to a professor emeritus, or someone who contributed to the school monetarily or in some other way, with the medal being equvalent to an honorary degree type of thing. Just speculation on my part.

Neat item, though!

**Chris B** · 11-05-2003, 06:44 PM

The side with the eagle says something like " Their Honorary (or Honorable) Citizens for Service". On the other side it could be the latin name for Friedrich Wilhelm. The next word I don't know. Then University or something like that,and then perhaps the latin short form for Litteratis. Seems like some kind of a prize for whoever the EhrenBuerger were. Hope this helps. maybe someone else can expand/clarify. It's a neat chain though. If its from a University brought back as War Booty, I wonder If they would be interested in it ? Do you know what the metal is?Cheers, Chris B.

**John Bart** · 11-05-2003, 07:47 PM

Please Help ID This Award

Originally posted by Bill Dienna

My german isn't great, but as I read the obverse, it seems to be an honor award for service. The reverse definitely gives it a university affiliation, in latin.

I would guess that perhaps it was an honor award for service to the university, perhaps something given to a professor emeritus, or someone who contributed to the school monetarily or in some other way, with the medal being equvalent to an honorary degree type of thing. Just speculation on my part.

Neat item, though!

Bill,
Thanks! I greatly appreciate your opinion on this.
Thanks for writing.

John

**John Bart** · 11-05-2003, 07:51 PM

Originally posted by Chris B

The side with the eagle says something like " Their Honorary (or Honorable) Citizens for Service". On the other side it could be the latin name for Friedrich Wilhelm. The next word I don't know. Then University or something like that,and then perhaps the latin short form for Litteratis. Seems like some kind of a prize for whoever the EhrenBuerger were. Hope this helps. maybe someone else can expand/clarify. It's a neat chain though. If its from a University brought back as War Booty, I wonder If they would be interested in it ? Do you know what the metal is?Cheers, Chris B.

Chris,
Thanks for your response. I'm pretty confident it's bronze.
Good point about the school being interested in it. I wonder if
they could be located?

John

**Erich B.** · 11-05-2003, 11:19 PM

award

It looks to be an award to an individual for honorary citizenship (of the town) for merit. It was probably presented by the Fr. Wilhelm University on the Rhein. Because of the Hoheitsabzeichen, I would tend to doubt that the town or University would want anything to do with it!
Erich

**John Bart** · 11-06-2003, 04:14 AM

Originally posted by Erich

It looks to be an award to an individual for honorary citizenship (of the town) for merit. It was probably presented by the Fr. Wilhelm University on the Rhein. Because of the Hoheitsabzeichen, I would tend to doubt that the town or University would want anything to do with it!
Erich

Eric,
Thanks for your feedback. How common or uncommon was this award?
Who manufactured it?

John

**Kevin Sanders** · 11-06-2003, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by John Bart

Eric,
Thanks for your feedback. How common or uncommon was this award?
Who manufactured it?

John

John-

First - I haven't seen anything like it - nice looking though....

Second - Concur with Ericb - although historically interesting to the university, the swaz is still verbotten and hidden in closets..... keep the piece.

Someone else on the forum may have some input - you've gotten some excellent feedback already from Bill, Chris, and Erich. If it's bronze, it would probably be (guessing here) from the mid to late 30's. Is the chain or the edges hallmarked in any way ?

Kevin

**John Bart** · 11-06-2003, 08:01 PM

Originally posted by Kevin Sanders

John-

First - I haven't seen anything like it - nice looking though....

Second - Concur with Ericb - although historically interesting to the university, the swaz is still verbotten and hidden in closets..... keep the piece.

Someone else on the forum may have some input - you've gotten some excellent feedback already from Bill, Chris, and Erich. If it's bronze, it would probably be (guessing here) from the mid to late 30's. Is the chain or the edges hallmarked in any way ?

Kevin

Hi Kevin,
No, there are no markings on the chain or links. However there is some lettering which is probably the artist/sculptor's signature. The letters are
IAGHIMANST (hard to make out as the letters are quite small). I will post a picture later. Yes, there has been some excellant feedback on this item
and it is greatly appreciated.

John

**Kurt Doench** · 11-06-2003, 09:25 PM

Hi all,

This was given by the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in Bonn, from the inscription it seems to all "Ehrenbürger" in recognition of their services. "Ehrenbürger" (lit.honorary citizen) was (and is) a title that can be conferred to persons outside of the Bonn university academic establishment for meritorious services to the university. Usually, this would mean some form of substantial monetary contribution, sponsorship or some such activity for the benefit of the university. Conferrees might be prominent local businesspeople, politicians etc. So as not to deflate the value of this "title", the number of persons so honoured would be quite small. I should think this medal is pretty rare, and indeed the university might be interested in the item for its archives.

Regards,

Schleppfux

**John Bart** · 11-06-2003, 10:50 PM

Originally posted by John Bart

Hi Kevin,
No, there are no markings on the chain or links. However there is some lettering which is probably the artist/sculptor's signature. The letters are
IAGHIMANST (hard to make out as the letters are quite small). I will post a picture later. Yes, there has been some excellant feedback on this item
and it is greatly appreciated.

John

Hello again,
Here's a few more pictures. It was difficult getting a sharp image. These
are the only markings I can find on the piece. My guess is it's the artist's name or maybe not? Take a look.

John

http://my.voyager.net/~fishfin/signat.jpg

closeup of the chain:

http://my.voyager.net/~fishfin/links1.jpg
http://my.voyager.net/~fishfin/links2.jpg

**John Bart** · 11-06-2003, 11:02 PM

Originally posted by Schleppfux

Hi all,

This was given by the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in Bonn, from the inscription it seems to all "Ehrenbürger" in recognition of their services. "Ehrenbürger" (lit.honorary citizen) was (and is) a title that can be conferred to persons outside of the Bonn university academic establishment for meritorious services to the university. Usually, this would mean some form of substantial monetary contribution, sponsorship or some such activity for the benefit of the university. Conferrees might be prominent local businesspeople, politicians etc. So as not to deflate the value of this "title", the number of persons so honoured would be quite small. I should think this medal is pretty rare, and indeed the university might be interested in the item for its archives.

Regards,

Schleppfux

Schlepfux,
Thanks for this information! You've been most helpful. One can only wonder who it once belonged to.

John

**Kurt Doench** · 11-07-2003, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by John Bart

Schlepfux,
One can only wonder who it once belonged to.

John

Indeed! Bonn university should have a list of all "Ehrenbürger" ever appointed, but one would need more information about the circumstances of this chain having been "liberated". I would suspect that the majority of Ehrenbürger would be local to the Rhineland, which was in the British zone of occupation. So if this particular one came from a GI, this would narrow down the possibilities somewhat. But, without imput from the GI that took it, even so it may never be possible to identify the recipient. If you really want to find out, I would suggest writing to Bonn university first and see how far you get.

Regards, Schleppfux

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