IRELAND. MERCHANT MARINE MEDAL 1939-46 (An tSeirbis Muir-Tractala), no bar, with its original ribbon and top brooch suspender (unnamed, as issued). A few minor edge nicks, otherwise Good Very Fine to Almost Extremely Fine and rare.
Eamonn O'Toole, in his "Decorations and Medals of Ireland", records a total of only 513 examples of this medal as having been awarded, of which 299 were awarded without bar, O'Toole additionally noting "this is one of the rarer service medals, and certainly the only one that was earned at considerable risk to life and limb, and in consistently unpleasant and dangerous conditions?