WW2 ERA BELGIUM ORDER OF THE CROWN OFFICER CLASS IN CASE ISSUE P DE GREEF

Description

43mm wide five-armed white enamel and silver-gilt Maltese cross with silver-gilt graduated rays between the arms, on green enamel oval laurel wreath suspension; the face with a gilt-edged circular central blue enamel medallion bearing the gilt crown of Belgium; the reverse with a gilt-edged circular central blue enamel medallion bearing the cipher of King Leopold II, founder of the Order; on original french style mounted ribbon with officer’s rosette. The medal comes in its original grey card award case, showing somec wear, marked for P. De Greef of Brussells.

The Order was instituted in 1897, initially as an award of the Belgian Congo.  In 1908 the Order became also a Belgian order, given to recognise service to the Belgian state, both civil and military, and may be awarded to both Belgian nationals and foreign citizens.