Germany, Federal Republic. An Order of Merit, Commander with Case

(Verdienstorden, Komterkreuz). In bronze gilt with red and black enamels, measuring 61 mm (w) x 71.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, intact enamels, light contact, on its full-length neck ribbon, near extremely fine. Accompanied by its 9.5 mm (w) x 10 mm miniature mounted to a 10 mm (w) x 8.5 mm ribbon bar, on a 36 mm long stickpin, in its hardshelled case of issue, Federal Republic coat-of-arms in gold-coloured ink on the lid and the inside lid, maker marked "STEINHAUER & LÜCK Lüdenscheid" on the bottom, navy blue felt raised platform with a recessed medal bed, case also near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of Merit is the highest honour that the Federal Republic of Germany bestows and was instituted by President Theodor Heuss on September 7, 1951, second anniversary of the founding of the Federal Republic, "with the desire to create a visible expression of recognition and thanks for meritorious men and women of the German people and from abroad for service in the fields of politics, socio-economics and intellectual work and for service in rebuilding the fatherland, and, as an award intended for all, for contributions to enhancing Germany’s reputation abroad". ("In dem Wunsche, verdienten Männern und Frauen des deutschen Volkes und des Auslandes Anerkennung und Dank sichtbar zum Ausdruck zu bringen, stifte ich am 2. Jahrestag der Bundesrepublik Deutschland den ,Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Er wird verliehen für Leistungen, die im Bereich der politischen, der wirtschaftlich-sozialen und der geistigen Arbeit dem Wiederaufbau des Vaterlandes dienten, und soll eine Auszeichnung all derer bedeuten, deren Wirken zum friedlichen Aufstieg der Bundesrepublik Deutschland beiträgt").