Original Item: Only One Available. The Legion of Merit is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.

The Legionnaire Degree of the Legion of Merit Medal and the Legion of Merit Medal issued to U.S. personnel is the same as the degree of Officer, except the suspension ribbon does not have the medal replica. The medal is on a wreath of green laurel joined at the bottom by a gold bow-knot (rosette), a five-pointed white star bordered crimson, points reversed with v-shaped extremities tipped with a gold ball. In the center, a blue disk encircled by gold clouds, with 13 white stars arranged in the pattern that appears on the Great Seal of the United States. Between each star point, within the wreath, are crossed war arrows pointing outwards, representing armed protection to the Nation. The overall width is is 1+7⁄8 inches (48 mm) and the pendant has a suspension ring instead of the wreath for attaching the ribbon. A gold replica of the medal, 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) wide, is centered on the suspension ribbon. In the center on the reverse, a disk for engraving the name (none present) of the recipient surrounded by the words "ANNUIT COEPTIS MDCCLXXXII": a combination of the motto from the Great Seal, "He [God] Has Favored Our Undertakings", with the date for the first award of a US decoration, the Purple Heart. An outer scroll contains the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."

The overall condition is quite nice, especially for being an earlier issued example. The ribbon is a little worse for wear with tearing along the top portion where the cloth drapes over the brooch. There is scattered fraying present giving this decoration an overall aged and worn appearance. The enamel work on the face of the medallion appears to be 100 percent complete with little to no cracking present. The matching button lapel device is in wonderful aged condition with both awards housed in the proper “Legion of Merit Legionnaire marked case.

A wonderful early example that comes more than ready for further research and display.