Circular silver-gilt medal on laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with a laurel-crowned female head facing left, representative of the French Republic, circumscribed ‘REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE’ and signed ‘L. Matteï’ (for the artist Léo Matteï); the reverse with a rectangular plaque bearing the attribution ‘LARUE / LUCIEN’, dated ‘Juillet 1976’ below, a radiant upright hammer in a fist, a standard and a staff of Hermes (Mercury) above, inscribed ‘HONNEUR TRAVAIL’ at the base; maker’s mark of Arthus Bertrand & Cie. of Paris on the edge; gilding faded, a few age marks to the reverse; on original tricolour ribbon with rosette mounted for wear in the French style.
The Medal was first instituted on 13 July 1886 and reorganised on 15 May 1948.
A number of different versions exist.
The silver-gilt (vermeil) grade, originally for thirty-five years’ service, is now for thirty years.
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