Germany, Federal Republic. A Pour le Mérite, Exhibition Example by Steinhauer & Lück, c. 1965

(Pour le Mérite, Museumsstück). Constructed of gilded bronze with enamels, consisting of a Maltese Cross with blue enameled, joined through the quadrants by double-sided Prussian imperial eagles, the obverse three, six, and nine o’clock arms bearing a gilt inscription of “POUR LE MÉRITE”, the twelve o’clock bearing a crowned monogram of King Friedrich II, the twelve o’clock arm topped by a fan suspension with a ring retaining an original length of neck ribbon, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of an exhibition example produced by Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid, measuring 53.22 mm (w) x 53.56 mm (h), weighing 21.6 grams, a high-quality exhibition example faithfully representing Prussia’s pre-eminent bravery award in extremely fine condition.