Vatican, Italian Unification. An Order Of The Advocates Of St. Peter, Knight, C.1880

(Ordinali di Avvocati di San Pietro). Instituted 1878. Suppressed 1909. Civil Division. Likely of French manufacture in silver gilt, a Knight’s badge consisting of an enameled white Maltese cross with detailed borders and ball finials, featuring multiple individual gilt rays in each quadrant, obverse centre exhibiting an engraved figure of St. Peter, encircled by a blue enameled border inscribed AVVOCATI DI SAN PIETRO (Advocates of St. Peter), reverse depicting detailed Vatican coat of arms surrounded by the inscription TU ES CHRIST FIL DEI VIVI on a blue enameled border, measuring 36.86 mm (w) x 39.49 mm (h - inclusive of integral ring), with fine patina and excellent enameling, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of Advocates of St. Peter was established in 1878 as an association of Roman Catholic jurists, with the purpose of asserting and vindicating the rights and teaching of the Church and of the Holy See. The organization, which was blessed by Pius IX, received a signal mark of approbation from Leo XIII in 1878, when its constitution was approved in a papal brief. The Order was suppressed by Pope Pius X 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.