History

This Medal is conferred upon state government employees who have rendered impeccable service to the Swedish Government for at at least 30 years.

Contractors are not eligible to receive this award, and recipients must be legally employed.

An individual who has rendered at least 25 years of service, and is in the process of retiring, is also eligible to receive this award.

At the Medal's initial institution, it was intended to award custom service officers for long and meritorious service over a minimum period of 20 years. If the individual had rendered 30-50 years they also received a pension. It was later extended to award post office staff, and amended again in 1960 to it's current award criteria.

As established by the Cabinet Office, individuals who are eligible to receive this award have the option to chose between receiving the Medal, a crystal bowl or a watch.

The option to choose a watch arose in 1968.

The option to choose a bowl arose on January 1, 1980.

Once an individual chooses which award they would like to redeem, it can not be exchanged with a different award.

When conferred upon women, this Medal is worn on a bow ribbon.

The obverse design of this medal consists of a portrait of the reining monarch, and around his head, in Swedish, his name and title; because of this, there are many versions of the design of this medal.

In addition to the obverse design changes associated with the reining monarchs, the designs and inscriptions of the medal were amended in 1830, 1849, and 1863.

The present reverse design of the medal is engraved with the recipients name.

This Medal is not conferred in grades but rather by size and suspension, following an 18th century scale called “Berch’s Scale”.

At the Medal's initial institution, the medal was composed of many "grades" from this scale, but following July 1, 1947, it was decided that the only "grade" this Medal would be conferred in is the 6th Class Gold Medal.