France - Third Republic Knight’s Legion of Honor

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Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur pour Chevalier de Troisième Rébulique (1870-1940). Originally established May 19, 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the National Order of the Legion of Honour is Frances highest order of merit for military and civil merits. It was awarded in five distinctions, for excellent civil or military conduct. The knight class was awarded for a minimum 20 years of public service or 25 years of professional activity with "eminent merits". It is constructed out of a silver base with gold center and multi-colored enamel work. The obverse features a centrally placed bust of Marianne in gold, surrounded by “Republic Francaise 1870” on a blue background on a white five-pointed maltese style cross (with a ball on each point) with a green half oak leaf and acorn, half laurel leaf and berry wreath, that is tied together at the bottom, within the cross’s arms. The reverse features two crossed French flags (one with fringe) tied together with a blue ribbon, surrounded by “Honneur et Patrie” on a blue background and has that same five pointed cross and wreath. To the top is a rectangular shaped loop and barrel attachment that shows another green half oak leaf and acorn, half laurel leaf and berry wreath, that is tied together at the bottom and top. To the top of the wreath is a soldered-on ball loop and ring which holds 4 ¾ inches of red rayon ribbon. The base is mint marked. Nice enamel, just minor damage. It measures 1 5/8 inches wide by 2 ¼ inches tall.