Germany, Third Reich. An Order of the German Eagle, Silver Merit Medal, by the Prussian Mint

(Deutsche Verdienstmedaille in Silber in Frakturschrift). Instituted 1 May 1937. (1937-1943 issue). Constructed of silver, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Maltese Cross, with its arms joined through the quadrants by NSDAP-style German national eagles clutching wreathed mobile swastikas, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “DEUTSCHE VERDIENST-MEDAILLE” (“GERMAN MERIT MEDAL”) in Fraktur script, the edge stamped with a crescent moon indicating German manufacture, a silver content number of “835”, and the logo of the Prussian Mint in Berlin, measuring 38.10 mm in diameter, weighing 23.2 grams (inclusive of ribbon), demonstrating some tarnishing in addition to the loss of the ribbons pinback, in near extremely fine condition.