East German Interior Ministry Gold Merit Medal with Ribbon
In stock
- SKU
- S19457010
- Material
- Steel
- Style
- Military, Vintage
Description
GDR Interior Ministry Medal
This gold-grade merit medal comes from the Interior Ministry of the German Democratic Republic, the East German state. The obverse reads "Für Hervorragende Verdienste" (For Outstanding Merit) around the GDR state emblem. It suits collectors of Cold War and East German awards, reenactors building an accurate uniform, and anyone who wants an original government-issued decoration for a display.
Features
- Gold-Finish Steel Medal — The round medal is struck in steel and finished in gold tone, the top grade of the award.
- GDR State Emblem — The center carries the East German hammer and compass inside a ring of rye, set on a multi-pointed rayed star.
- Oak Leaf Detail — A spray of oak leaves sits beneath the star at the base of the obverse.
- Raised Inscription — "Für Hervorragende Verdienste" runs around the rim in raised capitals.
- Folded Ribbon Mount — The medal hangs from a suspension ring on a folded ribbon in sand with red edges, yellow stripes and a black center stripe.
- Matching Ribbon Bar — A short ribbon bar in the same stripe pattern is included for everyday uniform wear in place of the full medal.
- Pin-Back Fittings — The ribbon mount and the ribbon bar each have a metal pin on the reverse for attaching to a tunic.
- Presentation Case — The set is shown in a black case with a yellow foam insert that holds the medal and bar in place.
Issue and Specification
The GDR Interior Ministry oversaw the state's internal security organs, and it awarded this medal for outstanding service within them. The set follows the East German pattern for state decorations: a full medal on a folded ribbon for formal dress and a ribbon bar for daily uniform. Because it is original issue rather than a later copy, the striping, emblem and fittings match what was presented at the time.
More Information
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Customer Reviews
Top customer reviews
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Lovely Medal!I recently bought this East German Interior Ministry Gold Merit Medal with Ribbon and I must say it's a beautiful piece. The gold plating is just perfect and the ribbon adds that extra touch of elegance to it. I wear it proudly at events and it always draws compliments from people who know about DDR history.
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Solid piece of Cold War historyBeen looking for one of these MdI merit medals for a while and the price was right so I jumped on it. When I held it in my hand for the first time you can really feel the craftsmanship they put into these awards back in the DDR days. The clasp on the back works fine and the ribbon colors are still vibrant which is cool. Only nitpick is there was a very small scratch on the back but honestly thats expected with surplus items and it doesnt bother me at all. Really glad I grabbed this one before they sold out.
Great price for an authentic DDR award
Clasp mechanism still works properlyMinor scratch on the back of the medal,
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Cool AFEnamel work is clean, the gilt finish hasnt worn down and the ribbon is in way better shape than most i see at shows. Picked up two of these actually, one to display and one to keep stored. Shipping was faster than i expected, had it in hand within 2 days.
No reproduction nonsense,
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Outstanding example of GDR craftsmanshipThis medal is everything I hoped for. The attention to detail is impressive and the gold plating hasnt worn much at all. Been collecting Cold War memorabilia for about 8 years now and this ranks up there with some of my best finds.
Exceptional detail work + Gold plating still pristine + Historically significant
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Pristine gold finish, completes my setHave been collecting GDR Interior Ministry awards for years, had bronze and silver, needed the gold to complete the progression. This one arrived in excellent condition gold finish bright, no tarnishing, enamel perfect. The ribbon is original, correct red and gold pattern for gold level awards. Suspension ring is properly attached, no repairs. The reverse has clear maker marks, consistent with period production. The gold level features slightly more detailed enamel work than the silver, noticeable when compared side by side. For $9 it's fairly priced for the rarity. Gold Interior Ministry medals don't come up as often as military awards. Displayed with my bronze and silver, the progression looks excellent. The history of these civil service awards is fascinating recognizing decades of service in a police state.