Portugal, Kingdom. An Order of Military Merit, Grand Officer’s Star, by Da Costa consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac with clusters of three rays

with clusters of three rays in each quadrant

In the 1817 Almanach der Ritter=Orden by Friedrich Gottschalck is a plate with a faithful representation of how the Order was designed to appear

Radiation and Power Department

marked with a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logo and maker code “M1/44” for C

Portugal, Kingdom. An Order of Military Merit, Grand Officer’s Star, by Da Costa consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac with clusters of three rays(Ordem do Mrito Militar). Instituted 1946. In silver gilt, a star featuring clusters of three smooth rays, the obverse medallion in red and white enamels bearing the inscription MERITO MILITAR, the reverse presents a vertical pin assembly, maker marked FREDERICO DA COSTA LISBOA, measures 73. 7 mm (w) x 74 mm (h), weighs 62. 8 grams, small cracks in the white enamel cross, areas of slight gilt loss, remains near extremely fine.