Germany, Federal Republic. An Order Of Merit, Cross Of Merit For Men On Employment Jubilee Ribbon 1957-1966

(Verdienstorden, Verdienstkreuz für Herren am Bande für Arbeitsjubilare). In bronze gilt with red and black enamels, measuring 54.8 mm (w) x 54.8 mm (h), intact enamels, bronze gilt 50 Year Employment Jubilee clasp affixed to its original ribbon with pinback, extremely fine. Accompanied by its 27.3 mm (w) x 15.3 mm (h) ribbon bar with 50 Year Employment Jubilee clasp and button hole attachment, in its hardshelled case of issue, Federal Republic coat-of-arms in gold-coloured ink on the lid and on the inside lid, maker marked "Stenhauer & Lück Lüdenscheid" on the bottom, navy blue felt insert in the base and slotted for the award and the ribbon bar, scuffing on the lid, a piece of the paper covering peeled off on the bottom, case very 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"). From September 7, 1952, the Cross was awarded annually to workers completing fifty years' service with the same employer. From September 7, 1957 to September 7, 1966 the Cross was awarded with the bar seen in this example. The award for long employment service was discontinued in the change of the regulations of the Order of December 20, 1966, after which approximately twenty-nine thousand awards had been made. The Cross with Employment Jubilee bar was made by Steinhauer & Lück of Lüdenscheid, and later, also by C.E. Juncker of Berlin.