United States. An Order Of The Founders And Patriots Of America Membership Badge In Gold

In 14K Gold with red, white and blue enamels, weighing 23.7 grams, the conjoined busts of the Revolutionary soldier and the Spanish conquistador in silver, measuring 46 mm (w) x 47.7 mm (h), intact enamels, original ribbon, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America (OFPA) is a highly restrictive, United States-based, hereditary fraternal organization whose self-declared purpose is to collect and preserve records related to the original American colonists and their descendants, and to promote camaraderie among descendants of original colonists. Its strict bloodline mandates and small size (currently slightly more than 1,000 members), has earned it a reputation as the most exclusive lineage society in the United States. However, unlike the Society of the Cincinnati, membership eligibility does not descend through family lines by order of agnatic primogeniture, meaning more than one member of the same family can simultaneously hold membership. The OFPA was founded in 1896. At that time, there were several hereditary organizations for descendants of Patriots of the American Revolution, as well as for descendants of early American colonists (i.e. Founders). The OFPA is the only organization to require descent from both a Founder and a Patriot. Its first annual meeting was held in the Governor's Room at New York City Hall. Membership is limited to male U.S. citizens of "good moral character" who are directly descended in the paternal line from a person who settled, prior to 1657, in the territory that would become the thirteen colonies and whose family later helped achieve, through military service, United States independence. The OFPA is organized into twenty-eight regional chapters, known as societies. These, together, form the general society, which is headed by a governor-general. The society is headquartered in Ohio. Individual members are referred to as "associates."