Italy, Republic; International. A Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Acre and Saint Thomas, III Class Commander, c.1960

(Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni d'Acri e San Tommaso). Multi-piece construction, badge in bronze gilt with red, light blue and navy blue enamels, the trophy-of-arms in bronze gilt with red and white enamels, unmarked, obverse centrepiece illustrating Saint John of Acre and Saint Thomas, surrounded by the inscription "MIL. AC HOSP. ORDO S. JOHAN ACCON. ET S. THOMAE" (Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Acre and Saint Thomas), reverse centrepiece inscribed "A.F. / MCCV" (founded 1205) in the centre and surrounded by the inscription "PRO FIDE VIRTUTE AC PIETATE" (for Faith Virtue and Piety), measuring 51.3 mm (w) x 103 mm (h) inclusive of its trophy-of-arms suspension, intact enamels, on its full-length original neck ribbon; and Miniature: badge with a three-piece construction, in bronze gilt with red and navy blue enamels, the trophy-of-arms in bronze gilt with red and white enamels, unmarked, measuring 16.2 mm (w) x 33.2 mm (h) inclusive of its trophy-of-arms suspension, intact enamels, original ribbon. Together, extremely fine. Accompanied by its Rosette, measuring 12.7 mm in diameter, with button hole attachment, in its hardshelled case of issue, red dimpled exterior, inside lid in a peach-coloured satin, padded and exhibiting the impressions of the awards housed in the base, raised platform in the base in peach-coloured felt and housing two recessed beds, one for the award, the other for the miniature, along with a slot to house the rosette, measuring 135 mm (w) x 155 mm (h) x 26.5 mm (d), light wear evident on the exterior, case near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Acre and Saint Thomas is among those that existed in the late Middle Ages at the time of the Crusades but then died out. It was resurrected in the 1960's or 1970's in Italy, probably by the self-styled Prince Pierre Amoroso of Aragon who was imprisoned for fraud late in life.