Germany, Third Reich. An Order Of The German Eagle, Silver Medal Of Merit With Swords, By The Vienna Mint United Republic of obverse portraying a blue and

obverse portraying a blue and white enamelled maltese cross with crossed cannons and a central medallion featuring a red enamelled surround inscribed VCA SNY 1790 with the American Eagle in the centre holding laurel branches and arrows in its talons

on a blue wool backer

This medal group is extremely well documented and is accompanied by a well organized file which includes a service history as well as 8 photographs of the ships on which Higgins served throughout his career

1964-on) (in bronze

Germany, Third Reich. An Order Of The German Eagle, Silver Medal Of Merit With Swords, By The Vienna Mint United Republic of obverse portraying a blue and(Orden vom Deutschen Adler, Silberne Verdienstmedaille mit Schwertern). Instituted 1 May 1937. Constructed of silver, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon with horizontal pinback, the obverse bearing a raised Maltese Cross, with its quadrants joined by NSDAP style German national eagles clutching wreathed mobile swastika, the twelve oclock position bearing crossed swords, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of DEUTSCHE VERDIENST