Medal Of National Order Of Merit

Medal of Merit in silver gilt. It is a French honorary order created on 3 December 1963 by General de Gaulle in substitution of 17 Ministerial and Colonial Orders, rewarding the deeds and merits accomplished by French citizens. It is the second national order in complementarity with the Legion of Honor.
t is a star with six double branches enamelled in blue, surmounted by a ram forming a crown of laurel leaves and oak. . On the obverse, in the center of the star is represented the effigy of the Republic surrounded by a laurel wreath surrounded by the inscription "French Republic". On the reverse, two enamelled tricolour flags, interlaced and surrounded by two inscriptions "Ordre National du Mérite" and "3 December 1963" (unlike the legion d'honnuer, merit has no motto).
This decoration is suspended from a ribbon, color "Bleu de France" with a blue rosette fixed to the center of ribbon, coresponding to the rank Officer.
The set is complete with its buttonhole