Vatican, State. An Advocate Order Of St. Peter, Ii Class Star, C.1900

(Ordine di San Pietro). Instituted 1877. 1877-1909 issued. Of French manufacture, a multiple ray eight-pointed star in silver, obverse superposing by an enameled white four-armed cross with ball finials and gilded scaled border in bronze gilt, featuring clusters of three gilded rays in each quadrant, with centre displaying an etched portrait of St. Peter surrounded by an enameled blue border with the inscription AVVOCATI DI SAN PIETRO, reverse with central pin assembly, measuring 72.15 mm (w) x 71.73 mm (h), hallmarked twice by French silver hallmark denoting purity of .800, presenting replaced centrepiece slightly detached, missing the tips of the longest rays of each arm, with 6 o’clock arm slightly bent, tarnished silver and cracked white enamels, piece not as issued, fair.

Footnote: The Advocates of Saint Peter was founded in 1877 as body of jurists, whose main object was the defense of the Holy See in its rights and privileges against the Italy unification. Its statues were confirmed by Leo XIII on July 5, 1878. The society was formed on the occasion of the Golden Episcopal Jubilee of Pope Pius IX, and the Advocate Count Cajetan Agnelli of the Malherbi, of Rome. The society has spread rapidly over the Catholic world, and the branches of society were found in many countries. Colleges of the Advocates of St. Peter, existed in Italy, England, Austria, France, Spain, Germany, Canada and South America. All of these bodies were affiliated to the directory in Rome. The body was later transformed into an chivalric order; however, it was suppressed in 1909.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.