Netherlands, Kingdom. A Dutch Army Long Service Medal, Gold Grade

(Medaille voor Langdurige, Eerlijke en Trouwe Dienst), a First Class long service medal struck in silver with a gold gilt finish, featuring on the obverse the crowned royal monogram W of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, encircled by the inscription VOOR VERDIENSTE (For Merit) and flanked by laurel branches, the reverse bearing the inscription JE MARINITIENDE (For Military Service) surrounding a central shield charged with a bugle horn emblem, measuring 32.8 mm x 37 mm excluding the suspension device, weighing 20.7 grams, suspended from its original plain orange ribbed ribbon mounted for wear with twin vertical attachment pins, housed in its original red leatherette fitted case with dark blue velvet interior and silk lid lining stamped in gold with the maker’s mark Koninklijke Begeer Voor Schoten, exhibiting light age toning to the medal and gentle wear to the case consistent with period issue, very fine condition.

Footnote: The Dutch Army Long Service Medal was awarded for extended periods of faithful and meritorious service within the Royal Netherlands Army, with the Gold Grade reserved for the longest qualifying service. The crowned W monogram identifies the reign of Queen Wilhelmina, who ruled from 1890 to 1948, placing the medal’s issue firmly within the early to mid twentieth century.  Koninklijke Begeer of Voorschoten manufactured official Dutch insignia throughout the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.