Romania, Socialist Republic. An Order for Distinguished Service in Defence of the Social Order and the Country, III Class

(Ordinul Pentru Servicii Deosebite Aduse în Apãrarea Orânduirii Sociale şi de Stat, Clasa III). Instituted in 1958. 1968-1989 Issue. Socialist Republic coat-of-arms and ribbon banner in silvered and gilt bronze with red, orange, white, green, light blue and dark blue enamels, surrounded by ten glass stones in raised couplings, mounted to a bronze gilt base with sixteen pairs of emanating rays, measuring 53.3 mm (w) x 61 mm (h), horizontal pinback, intact enamels and stones, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order for Distinguished Service in Defence of the Social Order and the Country was created in 1958 and amended in 1968, in three classes. It was awarded to senior members of the State Security Department (Departamentul Securităţii Statului), known universally as the Securitate, the secret police of the Romanian Communist state. The Order is rare in all classes.