Hungarian Order of Merit, Grand Cross, Military Division

SKU: 01.HUN.0103.202.01

Estimated market value:

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  • Hungarian Order of Merit, Grand Cross, Military Division
  • Hungarian Order of Merit, Grand Cross, Military Division
  • Hungarian Order of Merit, Grand Cross, Military Division Reverse
  • Hungarian Order of Merit, Grand Cross, Military Division Set

Attributes

  • country
    Hungary
  • date of institution
    June 19, 1923

History


This Order was founded by Admiral Nicholas Horthy, and it was awarded for outstanding merit within civil and military fields.

Originally the Order was called the Hungarian Cross of Merit and only featured four grades. From 1935-1939, it was expanded to feature 12 grades including a Collar and supplementary crosses and medals of merit.

When it was amended in 1939, the Order was also changed to reward both military and civil merit. Thus there are three main versions, the Civil Division, the Military Division, and the Military Division with War Decoration.

The Military Division awards feature additional crossed swords, and were worn on a green ribbon with red and white exterior stripes.

The Civil Division awards feature a plain cross, and were worn on a green ribbon.

The War Decoration awards were conferred with an oak leaf wreath on the bottom cross arm, and were worn on a red ribbon with white and green exterior stripes. Therefore the Military Division with War Decoration awards feature crossed swords, and an oak leaf wreath on the bottom cross arm.

Early versions of the Grand Cross grade may also feature a surmounting Holy Crown.

The Order was discontinued after the fall of the Hungarian Monarchy in 1946, and it was replaced by the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, which was subsequently discontinued in 1949. The Order was re-established after the collapse of communism in Hungary, and it was re-named the Order of Merit of Hungary in 2012.

The Grand Cross and Grand Cross Breast Star also have an additional War Decoration version.

Versions of the Grand Cross with a surmounting Holy Crown may also be known as the Special grade.

See the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, HUN149, in the Republic of Hungary (1944-1949), the Order of Merit of the Hungarian People's Republic, HUN159, in the Hungarian People's Republic (1949-1989), and the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, HUN236, in Hungary (1989-) for more information.

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Versions

  • Price

    $4,800 USD

  • Composition

    Silver gilt/Enamelled

  • Inscription

    Rev: SI DEUS PRO NOBIS QUIS CONTRA NOS 1921

  • Size

    53-56mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This example was sold as a Grand Cross set by eMedals for $11,400

  • View Item
  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Enamelled

  • Inscription

    Rev: SI DEUS PRO NOBIS QUIS CONTRA NOS 1921

  • Size

    53-56mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    The image of the Grand Cross (Military Division with Holy Crown) is attributed to Duke83 and Wikipedia at https://commons.wikimedia.org/w...

  • View Item
  • Price

    $4400 USD

  • Composition

    Enamelled

  • Inscription

    Rev: SI DEUS PRO NOBIS QUIS CONTRA NOS 1921

  • Size

    53-56mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

  • View Item
  • Price

    $5500 USD

  • Composition

    Enamelled

  • Inscription

    Rev: SI DEUS PRO NOBIS QUIS CONTRA NOS 1921

  • Size

    53-56mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

  • View Item
  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Enamelled

  • Inscription

    Rev: SI DEUS PRO NOBIS QUIS CONTRA NOS 1921

  • Size

    53-56mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

  • View Item

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