France, II Republic. An Order of Legion of Honour, Reduced Size Knight, c.1850

(Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur). Type V (1848-1851). In silver and of reduced size, a white enamelled Maltese cross with ball finials, green enamelled oak/laurel leaf segments in each quadrant, the obverse medallion in Gold features the right facing portrait of Luis Napoleon, surrounded by a blue enamel ring inscribed BONAPARTE IER CONSUL 19 MAI 1802, the reverse medallion with crossed French flags and the central inscription HONNEUR ET PATRIE surrounded by a blue ring inscribed REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE, marked on the obverse tassel with a boars head denoting Paris manufacture from 1838-1962 with a silver fineness of 800, measures 32.4mm (w) x 34.7mm (h), weighs 8.2 grams, central medallion is loose, several chips to the tips of the rays on the obverse and the reverse, worn on a replacement red ribbon, in near very fine condition.