Instituted April 28, 1818 by Prince Regent in the name of King George III. A beautifully detailed Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael & St. George, presenting a silver gilt Maltese Asterick with white enamels with crown suspension, the obverse center in Gold presenting an enamelled motif of a winged St. Michael slaying Satan with a blue enamelled surround inscribed AUSPICIUM MELIORIS ÆVI (Token of a Better Age), the reverse Gold medallion presents a richly enamelled motif of St. George riding a white horse slaying a green dragon with a blue enamelled surround inscribed AUSPICIUM MELIORIS ÆVI (Token of a Better Age), measures 71.30mm (w) x 106.60mm (h – inclusive of crown suspension and integral ring), weighs 80.5 grams, unmarked, minor enamel wear to obverse and reverse medallions however enamel arms intact, in extremely fine condition.
Footnote: The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George was established by the Prince Regent in the name of King George III in 1818. It was created to recognize subjects of Malta and the Ionian Islands, which had come under the control of the United Kingdom following the end of the Napoleonic Wars. After the Ionian Islands were ceded to the United Kingdom in 1864, the Order was extended to the rest of the British Empire in 1868. Men wear the Companion on a neck ribbon. Companions are entitled to use the post-nominal letters CMG.