Vatican. A Pontifical Equestrian Order Of St. Gregory The Great, Iii Class Knight Case

(Ordine di San Gregorio Magno). Instituted in 1831. Pius XI (1922-1939). Hardshelled design on both the lid and base, with a red smooth-pebbled exterior on all sides, Vatican coat-of-arms bearing the arms of Pope Pius XI (born 1857, died 1939, Papacy 1922-1939) in gold-coloured ink on the lid, the inside lid lined in white satin, padded and maker marked "TANFANI & BERTARELLI ROMA", a white fabric-wrapped cardboard insert placed within the base, undulated beige felt medal bed, push release latch, single-hinged, measuring 77 mm in width x 112 mm in length x 27 mm in depth, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election to that seat by the College of Cardinals. The Order of St. Gregory the Great is one of the five Orders of Knighthood of the Holy See. The honour is bestowed upon Roman Catholic men and women (and sometimes in rare cases to non-Catholics) in recognition of their personal service to the Holy See and to the Roman Catholic Church, through their unusual labours, their support of the Holy See, and their excellent examples set forth in their communities and their countries. The Order of St. Gregory the Great has four "classes" in civil and military divisions: Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the First Class, Knight/Dame Commander with Star, Knight/Dame Commander and Knight/Dame.