Circular silver gilt medal with laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with the head of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco facing left, circumscribed ‘RAINIER III PRINCE DE MONACO’; the reverse with a symbolic drop of blood within a ring, circumscribed ‘MERITE NATIONAL DU SANG’; (National Merit for Blood); maker’s mark ‘AB’ (Arthus Bertrand of Paris) and hallmark on the lower edge; gilding somewhat worn; on original ribbon; in original fitted embossed case of issue with the crowned cipher of Prince Rainier III in gilt on the lid. The award was instituted by Prince Rainier III by Sovereign Ordinance No 10,965 on 30 July 1993 to recognise the devotion and merit of regular blood donors and succeeded the Medal of Recognition of the Monegasque Red Cross (Médaille de la Reconnaissance de la Croix-Rouge Monégasque) created on 16 October 1950 and the Amicable Medal for Blood Donors (Médaille de l'Amicale des Donneurs de Sang) created in 1972 by Princess Grace. The gilt medal is the highest award and is given to those who have made more than one hundred such donations. The current version of the medal has the drop of blood on the face and the arms of Monaco on the reverse. This version with the head of Prince Rainier on the face is very much rarer. Monaco is second-smallest independent state in the world with a population of about 32,400 and, as a result, all its decorations are scarce. A very good example of a rare medal.
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