HERALDIC INSTITUTE
Patron HIRH Archduke Casimir of Austria, Prince of Tuscany
Heraldic Institute
Medal of Merit
The Heraldic Institute Medal of Merit honours individuals for their long-standing or exceptional service in heraldry and related fields. This medal serves to complement existing national heraldic awards, allowing organisations to recognise their dedicated volunteers when they may otherwise lack resources for such recognition.
​
​
The award will be given in a single class. According to §17 of the award's statutes "The Medal of Merit shall consist of an open gold-coloured medal featuring the Institute’s badge (four shields between two crossed batons), three-quarter surrounded by crossed laurels, the arch of the crossed laurels being closed by a plain gold band, suspended from a light blue ribbon with two gold stripes on the outer sides, but not on the edge." All references to this award should be made as the “Heraldic Institute Medal of Merit.”
To qualify, candidates must demonstrate a minimum of 10 years of service or a significant impact on the art or science of heraldry - or both. Precedence will be given to those with limited prior recognition, with no more than three Medals awarded each year. A committee appointed by the Board will be responsible for selecting recipients. Appointments will usually be made twice a year.
The Heraldic Institute Medal of Merit
Nominations can be made by heraldic organisations or individuals (with at least one additional supporting nomination). Recipients will receive the award and certificate from a Fellow of the Institute or another designated representative.
Important guidelines to note:
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Applications cannot be made in one’s own name.
- Once submitted, we cannot comment on the application status.
- Feedback will not be provided on unsuccessful applications.
​
Further details regarding the Heraldic Institute Medal of Merit can be found in the statutes of the award and nomination form. Please consult these before getting in touch with us.
​
Our Fellow Thomas Falk designed the medal and Taxon Skandinavien AB produce these (our Fellows’ badge are made by a different company). The lady’s bow and miniatures will not usually be issued, but can be supplied by Taxon.
2025 Heraldic Institute
Medallist: Edgar Sims
For his tireless efforts in bringing hundreds of newly created regional and municipal coats of arms to life and in the process making heraldry an integral part of the Latvian national character, the Board awards the Heraldic Institute Medal of Merit to Edgar Sims, resident artist to the Latvian State Heraldry Commission. Despite his vast production in recent years, he never fails to maintain high quality and a distinct style in all his work, thus making a lasting contribution to the expression of an independent Latvia.
He has also designed arms for major academic institutions, including the University of Latvia (approved 2024) and RÄ«ga Stradiņš University (approved 2018), as well as numerous municipalities, organisations and private individuals. Particularly significant is his contribution to personal heraldry: he has created more than half of all modern family coats of arms in Latvia and often assists applicants in obtaining official recognition.
​
In recognition of his work, Sims received the Heraldic Institute Medal of Merit in June 2025. He is a member of the Royal Historical Society, a founding member of the Stender Society (2017), and a board member of the Latvian Central Council Memorial Fund. Active internationally, he presents research at heraldic conferences and contributes to the study of Baltic heraldry.
Edgar Sims (b. 1980, Riga) is a Latvian historian and heraldic artist. He holds a Master’s degree from the Faculty of History and Philosophy at the University of Latvia and is a PhD candidate researching “The Development of Personal Heraldry in Livonia, 13th–16th Century”. His work examines the evolution of heraldry in the Baltic region and its place in the symbolic culture of medieval Livonia.
​
Sims serves as resident heraldic artist for the State Heraldry Commission (Valsts Heraldikas komisija), contributing to the design and approval of new coats of arms. Among his notable works is the arms of the historical land of SÄ“lija (approved 2023), later depicted on a Latvian €2 commemorative coin (2025) and postage stamps (2026). The design, featuring a stag Argent, joins the arms of the other historical lands of Latvia: Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale and Latgale.​