France National Order of Merit Knight Cross 1980 -th

vsAE 66x 38 mm.; Enameled; without original ribbon; original name: Ordre National du Mérite; The Order was created on 3 December 1963 by President de Gaulle with the aim of honouring the distinguished civil and military services that, at that date, were recognised by 13 Ministerial and 3 French Overseas Orders. These sixteen Orders were thus suppressed and replaced with this single Order of Merit. The Order of Merit is administered by a Chancellor who is also Grand Chancellor of the Legion d’Honneur. Since its creation, it has been awarded to notable personalities from all walks of life and has thus acquired considerable prestige.