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Serafimer Medal

Order of the Serafim

Sweden

1764-2025

This chapter will be including about 40 different Serafimer Medals. I have been looking and digging for information through the last 30 years to understand a bit of this history. My focus is to display the variations of these beautiful pieces of art.

I must thank the huge inventory at Livrustkammaren in Stockholm Sweden. They have a huge collection of historical pieces with historical information.  As you see on this page a lot of the photos are still in black and white. Hopefully one day one will have more of these photos in high resolution color.  They have iincluded the history of these pieces and on many the dimensions are included. Unfortunately the weight of the pieces are missing. I am sure this will be available one day.

The Livrustkammaren is located next to the Royal Castle in Stockholm. I have visited their exhibitions several times. Very nice and and very interesting. About 20 years ago I was to have meetings with them and also having a real look at their vaults.  Unfortuntely Radon gas had been measured at too high levels and the old vaults were closed for all visits for years.  Still we had some very good meetings and discussed their collection of orders.  Since then they have moved their photos from their old website and now you find most of it on Wikimedia Commons, Europeana, Omnia.ie, etc.  Hopefully what you find there will be on these pages, plus alot more.

Scroll down (look below) to see these Serafimer Medals! Please enjoy!

-1748   Serafimer Medal-

Country    : Sweden
Order name : Serafimer
Type/subset: Badge
Jeweller   : Daniel Fehrman
J period   : 1710-1780
Owner      : Livrustkammaren
Awarded to : 

Height (mm): 48
Width  (mm): 30
Weight(gr) : 23
Tracking # : S001x
Date       : 1748
Knight #   : 

 

Slightly irregularly round, crowned gold medal. Obverse. Frederick I, chest-image, profile h, wig, scarf, harness, ribbon, below the arm faint monogram: DF (Daniel Fehrnan, 1710-1780), inscription: ‘FREDERICUS.D.G. REX..SVECIAE’. Grooved edge. Obverse: seraphim chain, inside text: ‘ORDO EQ // SERAPHIIN // RESTAURATUS // NATALI REGIS // LXXIII’, caption: ‘PROCERIS CUM PRINCIPE NECTIT 1748’. Grooved edge. Crowned by royal crown without lining, in the apple a fixed ring, through which is drawn a chain of small round rings, attached in four loops to the back of rectangular piece of black silk mace, folded three times.

Museum ‘Livrustkammaren

Size Height 48 mm Diameter 30 mm Weight 23 g (with chain)

Date 1748

Manufacturer Fehrman, Daniel

Depicting Frederick I of Sweden

Decoration: Frederick I, bust, profile h, wig, scarf, harness, ribbon

Item number 1732_LRK

Second issue No 1867: 24:69:a

Related item Associated with: 1733_LRK (Related to case no 1733 (possibly no 622).

The person pictured is not the one who received this specific medal. The picture is to show the first person to be awarded the Seraphim Medal and the chain used in the old days. Only a loop that can be attached through buttonholes for example. The person pictured is Olof Ström who was first awarded the Seraphim Medal in 1748.11.21.

-1856.04.28   Serafimer Medal Miniature-

Country    : Sweden
Order name : Serafimer
Type/subset: Miniature Medal
Jeweller   : Christian Hammer
J period   : 1845-1870
Owner      : Gothenborg Stadsmuseum
Awarded to : Lars Montén

Height (mm):
Width  (mm): 20
Weight(gr) : all of it 9
Tracking # : S562x
Date       : 1856.04.28
Knight #   : 

 

 
The reverse of the medal features King Frederick I's portrait and his name and title in Latin, along with the inscription 'PROCERES CUM PRINCIPE NECTIT', which translates to 'It unites the foremost with the prince'. The centre of the medal, within the seraphim chain, displays the text 'ORDO EQ.'. The Royal Order of the Seraphim was restored in the 73rd year of the King's life.

Kungl. Please find attached a miniature of the Royal Seraphim Medal, which includes a carrying device in the form of chain links. The medal is mounted on a clasp, with a black miniature ribbon for some degree of the Royal Order of the North Star taking precedence. Nordstjärneorden. As stated by Hildebrand (1874, p. 68), this medal was originally part of J. F. H. Oldenburg's collection and was reportedly worn by the wholesaler Lars Montén. The obverse image is identical to that of Fredrik I's 1 dukat.
This example is not one of the original ones made in 1748. This is a copy, still it may be the official one, and one see that both front and reverse are different. The crown on top and the globe on top of the crown is from the period around 1850. The crown and globe are typical of jeweller Hammer. 

Inventory number GMK:214

Name - depicted. Frederick I, King of Sweden, 1676-1751

Name - photographer Mäkinen, Jana

Name - manufacture. Hammer, Christian, Order Jeweller [crown and mount]; Kungl. Myntverket [the medal]

Name - use Monthén, Lars

Date - production. 1856 [ca]

Date - acquisition for the museum 1883

 
The medal was originally struck as a commemorative medal in memory of the establishment of the Royal Seraphim Order on 17 April 1748. It was subsequently awarded for contributions to the care of the sick and poor. From 1 January 1975, the medal was placed at the disposal of HM the King and is now awarded for civic merit of particular significance. It is Sweden's most prestigious award medal.

 

-2019.01.28   Serafimer Medal -

Country    : Sweden
Order name : Serafimer
Type/subset: Medal
Jeweller   : Nicklas Qvarnström
J period   : about 2020
Owner      : Swedish Medalj AB
Awarded to : Hédi Fried

Height (mm):
Width  (mm): 30
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S002x
Date       : 2019.01.28
Knight #   : 

 

 
The Seraphimer Medal, established in 1748, is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional humanitarian or general social contributions that have made them particularly deserving of this recognition. The Seraphim Medal is Sweden's oldest and most prestigious award, still presented today. It is the only medal whose portrait of the monarch remains unchanged during a change of government. The medal is worn in small links on the black bottom. Consequently, the medal features the likeness of King Fredrik I. The Seraphim Medal is bestowed upon individuals with great discernment. The medal, which has a diameter of 30 mm, was crafted by medalist Niklas Qvarnström at Swedish Medalj AB in Eskilstuna. The original 1748 stamps are still in use, with old minor scratches replanted in a newly produced medal. In the right light, as shown in the picture, these should not be visible. The medal was awarded to author and psychologist Hédi Fried "for particularly meritorious and long-term efforts in the fight for democracy and human values".