Italy, Kingdom. An Order of the Crown of Italy, III Class Commander, c.1918

(Ordine della Corona d'Italia). Instituted in 1868. Multi-piece construction, in 18K Gold with red, white, green, blue and black enamels, weighing 19 grams, unmarked, measuring 51.7 mm (w) x 55.2 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, tiny chip evident in the white enamels on the outer edge of the arm at 9 o'clock on the reverse, otherwise the enamels are intact, very light contact, on its original full-length neck ribbon, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele III, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861. It was awarded in five degrees for civilian and military merit: Knight Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight. Compared with the older Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus (1572), the Order of the Crown of Italy was awarded more liberally and could be conferred on non-Catholics as well. Eventually, it became a requirement for a person to have already received the Order of the Crown of Italy in at least the same degree before receiving the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. The order has been suppressed by law since the foundation of the Republic in 1946.