Serbia, Kingdom. An Order Of Takovo, I Class Breast Star, C.1900

(Редак Таково). Instituted on 22 May 1865 by Prince Michael III Obrenovich. Type IV, Model I, Civil Division. (Issued 1878-1903). A breast star consists of an eight point silver star with faceted rays, the obverse medallion features a silver gilt, white-enamelled Maltese Cross tipped with golden ball finials, between the arms is a silver gilded Cross of St. Andrew, with a red enamelled central medallion with the golden crowned cipher of Prince Milan IV, encircled by a blue-enamelled riband bearing an inscription in Old Church Slavonic meaning “For Faith, Prince, and Fatherland,” encircled by an oval silver gilt and green-enamelled palm wreath, the reverse with vertical pin assembly, marked on pin 800 for silver fineness with an additional undecipherable mark beside the 800, characteristic of German manufacture, measures 91.9mm (w) x 97.8mm (h), weighs 77.1 grams, enamels intact, minor re-enamelling of green wreath, dark patina, in near extremely fine condition.

Footnote: The Order of the Cross of Takovo has an intricate origin closely related to the foundation of the Kingdom of Serbia in 1882. The Order ceased to exist after the May Coup and the fall of the Obrenovich Dynasty in 1903.