France, La Presidence. An Order of the Legion of Honour, Officer in Gold, c.1852

Instituted May 19 1802. Type VI. (La Presidence, 1851-1852). Second Model. In 18K Gold, a beautiful Legion of Honour, the body of Second Restoration period cross, portraying a white enamelled five point cross with ball finials, a green enamelled wreath in each quadrant, the medallion has been replaced with  La Presidence period insignia, the obverse featuring a right facing portrait of Napoleon, surrounded by a blue ring inscribed NAPOLEON EMP. DES FRANCAIS, the reverse presents an open winged eagle, surrounded by a blue ring inscribed HONNEUR ET PATRIE, surmounted by a crown with eight half arches, marked with Dutch V in a diamond used for imported gold and silver objects with the "V" representing the Dutch word ˜vreemd"" which translates to "foreign" (the mark gives no guarantee of standard of fineness and was intended for imported objects only, however sometimes by mistake, it was used on old objects of national origin, used between 1906-1953), a partial indecipherable mark on the ring, measures 42.45mm (w) x 62.70 mm (h - inclusive of crown suspension), weighs 18.7 grams , worn on original ribbon with large central rosette, enamel filler present on several arms, chips to green enamel, a unique decoration of varying periods, in near extremely fine condition.