The National Order of Merit (or Ordem Nacional do Mérito in Portuguese) is a Brazilian decoration awarded to those who have rendered services relevant to the nation of Brazil (both Brazilian citizens over 25 years old and foreigners considered worthy of the distinction).
The Order of Merit was established on 4 September 1946 during the government of President Eurico Gaspar Dutra. The Grand Master of the order is the President of Brazil, and the necklace is always transferred to their successor.
Classes of the National Order of Merit
The Order of Merit has five grades. The number of awards is limited for each of them.
Grand Cross: 45 awards at a time.
Grand Officer: 150 awards at a time.
Commander: 350 awards at a time.
Officer: 650 awards at a time.
Knight: Unlimited awards at a time.
The National Order of Merit Medal Design
The Order of Merit’s insignia is a gold star with six beams, enameled in white with a wreath of roses. On the obverse, the center is an armillary sphere, also made of gold, in a blue field. The reverse reads the caption: “National Order of Merit“.
The design was inspired by the Imperial Order of the Rose, created by Jean-Baptiste Debret in 1829.
The necklace is made of two chains alternately ornamented with allegorical armillary and pink spheres.
