(Orden de Cisneros). Instituted in 1944 by General Francisco Franco. Issued 1944-1975. Likely French manufacture, an exquisite and highly scarce ball-tipped Maltese Cross in Gold, the ball finials embellishing by genuine brilliant-cut Diamonds on each arm, with non-genuine rubies illustrating the insignia’s red arms, featuring delicate Gold crossed arrows in each quadrant, the obverse displaying a highly performance hand painted Spanish eagle in black and red enamels, plain reverse, measuring 51.45 mm (w) x 54.41 mm (h - inclusive the integral flatball suspension), weighting 42.5 grams (inclusive of ribbon and Gold clasp), marked by French hallmark denoting imported gold items since 1893, together with French hallmark symbolizing Gold minimum purity of .750, suspended by original ribbon with typical Spanish horizontal hanger with pinback in Gold, a beautiful workmanship piece in near to mint condition.
Footnote: The Order of Cisneros was founded by General Francisco Franco in 1944, and it was the highest civil decoration in Spain until 1975. It was awarded to civilians who had displayed outstanding political services to the nationalist cause in the country. The Order was instituted in honor of Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros (1436-1517,) Spanish cardinal and statesman, promoter of the Crusades in North Africa, and founder of the Complutense University of Madrid.