Barac# 581, OEK22 2114; Au 46mm; 28,9g.; Enameled; without ribbon; RRR II Ex Collection Dieter Weber, Dresden. Specimen of excellent quality and excellent preservation. This cross of the Order is of the greatest rarity, since according to the lending files of the Royal Saxon Chancellery in the Hauptstaatsarchiv Dresden of the 140 Grand Crosses awarded to foreigners (with the inscription "DEM VERDIENSTE"), as well as (size equal) Comturkreuzen Class only 30 copies have not been returned to the Law Office. Since all the insignia of the 1891 model were demonstrably added to the gold utilization after the model change in 1, the cross offered here is an outstanding rarity of the Saxon orders. This specimen is shown by Weber, Arnold and Keil (in WB S.143, No. 162/163) and was also shown in the exhibition "The Orders and Medals of Merit of the Saxon States" of the Dresden Coin Cabinet at the Albertinum in Dresden from 10 October 1997 to 1 June 1998. (Dieter Weber, Dresden). The Order was donated on 7 June 1815 by King Frederick August I as a three-class order with an affiliated medal. In 1828 a version with a different inscription was introduced for foreigners. A so-called "Kleinkreuz" was founded below the Knight's Cross in 1847, which was renamed "Ehrenkreuz" in 1858. In 1849 the Order was renamed "Order of Merit" and the Comture was divided into 1st and 2nd. Class. On the occasion of the war of 1866 the swords for merit in the war were introduced for all classes of execution for nationals and in 1870 the swords on the ring. In 1871 the special version for foreigners came into disrepair. In 1876, further changes took place: The knight class is divided into knights 1 and 2. Class divided, the Cross of Honor and the Golden and Silver Medal of Merit are lifted and instead donated the Cross of Merit. The so-called "model change" took place in 1891: the previously painted coats of arms are changed into metal-embossed coats of arms and placed on the medallion, but knight's cross 2 by individual manufacturers. Class with painted medallions until 1918. Furthermore, the large and comurian crosses received a crown as an elevation, and the previous breaststroke received instead of so far six now eight rays (2nd model, 1st version - with separately embossed medail lone ring and embossed coat of arms). From 1904 the insignia was made in silver gold plated. In 1910, the execution of the insignia was simplified by making medallion ring and field from one piece in all insignia (2nd model, 2nd version). With the renunciation of King Frederick Augustus III. (1865-1932) on 13 November 1918 the Order also became extinct. ; Condition-I