Germany, Federal Republic. An Order Of Merit, 1St Class Grand Cross, By Steinhauer & Luck, C.1955

(Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) Instituted in 1951. Badge: in silver gilt with red and black enamels, measuring 71 mm (w) x 76.5 mm (h), on its original shortened sash; and Breast Star: insignia in silver gilt with red and black enamels, mounted to a silver gilt six-pointed star base, maker marked ""St. & L"" (Steinhauer & Luck, Lüdenscheid) and ""800"" (silver) on the pin, measuring 69.5 mm (w) x 80 mm (h), vertical pinback. Intact enamels, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only federal decoration of Germany. It was created by the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Theodor Heuss, on September 7, 1951, and has been awarded to over 200,000 individuals in total, both Germans and foreigners. Since the 1990s the number of annual awards has declined from over 4,000, first to around 2,300-2,500 per year, and now is under 2,000, with a low of 1,752 in 2011. In recent years, women have made up a steady thirty percent of recipients. Colloquially, the decorations of the different classes of the Order are also known as the Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz).

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.