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King’s Medal of Merit
(Full Size, With Case), Gold,
Olav V
奧拉夫五世時期
金質 國王功績獎章
(官方版, 含盒)
Item number: M164
Year: AD 1966
Material: Gold
Size: 28.5 x 45.9 x 1.5 mm
Weight: 24.05 g
Provenance: Spink 2024
This is a gold King’s Medal of Merit awarded in AD 1966 to a Norwegian citizen, Edgar W. Stene.Established in AD 1908by King Haakon VII of Norway, the medal aims to honour citizens who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of art, science, and industry. Most recipients receive a silver medal, with only a few individuals of exceptional contribution being awarded the gold medal.
The obverse features a left-profile portrait of King Olav V of Norway, who reigned in AD 1966. Surrounding the portrait are the king’s title and motto “All for Norway.” On the reverse side, there is a wreath surrounding the inscription “Edgar W. Stene 1966,” which includes the recipient’s name and the year of the award. The outer part of the wreath is inscribed with the name of the medal in Norwegian, “King’s Medal of Merit.” Above the medal, there is a crown decoration, and the crown is connected to the ribbon with a fixed ring suspension. The ribbon, symbolising the royal family, is worn on the left chest and features alternating red and yellow colours.
The medal is housed in its original red leather case lined with red velvet. The case lid features a gold-stamped crown symbol. Inside the lid, there is a white lining with the inscription “Norwegian Royal Mint Kongsberg,” which is the address of the mint that minted the medal.
According to the information from the auction house, Edgar Stene was born in Sarpsborg, Norway, in AD 1919. After graduating from high school, he worked as a seaman and settled in Shanghai, China. Between AD 1940 and AD 1941, he worked as a police officer in the International Settlement of Shanghai. Edgar later re-entered the maritime profession and served as a sailor during World War II, assisting the Allied forces in landing operations in Italy and Burma. He continued in this role until he was forced to retire due to Bechterew’s disease.
After the war, Edgar became a founding member of the Norwegian Rheumatism Association and served as the association’s secretary-general, helping numerous patients. He organised co-operation between the Scandinavian region and internationally on rheumatism-related matters until his death in AD 1969. The European League Against Rheumatism also established the “Edgar Stene Award” in his honour, to encourage scholars conducting research on rheumatism.
Borna Barac, Reference Catalogue Orders Medals and Decorations of the World : instituted until 1945 : Part III Bronze Book G-P (Craotia:OBOL d.o.o. Zagreb, 2013)