The Civil Merit Medals were founded on November 2, 1805, by Elector Maximilian IV Joseph. The first silver civil service medals were awarded on December 31, 1792, by Elector Carl Theodor. Under Maximilian, the civil service medals were awarded in gold and silver. The first coinage still shows Maximilian as Elector with the inscription - Maximilian Joseph Elector of the Palatinate Bavaria -. On January 1, 1806, Maximilian Joseph became King of Bavaria. The obverse stamps were redesigned and now showed the inscription - Maximilian Joseph König von Baiern -. The stamps on the medals come from Joseph Losch, Munich. The first form (being the king) show the stamp cutter signature on the front - LOSCH F.- and on the back a thin wreath without a bow. The last form shown here has the signature - LOSCH - on the front and a dense wreath tied with a bow on the back. Medals without a die cutter result from the increasing weakness of the die. After the foundation of the Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown on May 19, 1808, the civil service medals were attached to the order. Personal nobility was not granted. The medals had to be returned after July 4, 1838,.