Austria, Imperial. A Royal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen, Grand Cross Star, by Rothe

(Magyar Királyi Szent István Iovagrend). Instituted 1764 by Empress Maria Theresa. (Issued 1764-1946). This is an extremely well-preserved Order of St. Stephen, Grand Cross Breast Star, of multi-piece construction, consisting of an eight-pointed silver star, with central Gold appliques with red enamelled medallion depicting white enamelled Patriarchal Cross, on a field of red enamel flanked by gilded letters “M” and “T” above a gilded Hungarian royal crown, surrounded by a green enameled laurel wreath, the reverse plain, with a vertical pinback, measures 86.9 mm (w) x 86.1 mm (h), weighs 60.14 grams, marked on the pin with C.F. ROTHE and WIEN, with three A (Vienna) marks, and 900 silver stamp, minor enamel flake in white central cross, a very rare star in extremely fine condition.