Hohenzollern, State. A House Order of Hohenzollern, I Class Honour Cross, c.1910

(Fürstlicher Hausorden von Hohenzollern Ehrenkreuz I. Klasse). Instituted 5 December 1841 by Prince Konstantin of Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. (1866-1918 issue). Constructed of silver with Gold and enamels, consisting of a Cross Pattée, the obverse with its arms joined through the quadrants by green enameled laurel and oak leaf wreaths, with white enameled arms highlighted with black enameled trimming, overlaid by a central white enameled disc bearing a hand-painted Hohenzollern coat of arms highlighted in gilt, set within a Gold frame with a blue enameled ring bearing a gilt inscription of “FÜR TREUE UND VERDIENST” (“FOR LOYALTY AND SERVICE”) and laurel and oak leaf branches, the reverse with a barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a rounded catch, unmarked, measuring 49.02 mm (w) x 49.10 mm (h), weighing 26.1 grams, with minor flecking and scratching evident to the enamels in additional to a small chip to the lower corner of the three o’clock arm, in near extremely fine condition.