Hungary, Kingdom. An Order of Merit, IV Class Knight with Swords

(Magyar Királyság Érdemrendje, IV. osztályú Lovagkereszt kardokkal), in gilt bronze and white and green enamels, with green-edged white enamelled cross arms, crossed swords between the arms, and a red enamelled central medallion bearing the Hungarian double cross within a green enamelled wreath, suspended from its original triangular ribbon with green and white edge stripes and fitted with a clasp denoting award of a higher grade of the Order, the reverse centre in bronze with raised Latin inscription SI DEUS PRO NOBIS QUIS CONTRA NOS 1922 with translation “If God is for us, who is against us?”, measuring 42.7 mm x 47.4 mm inclusive of ball suspension, weighing 35.1 grams, with bright finish and crisp enamels, extremely fine condition.

Footnote: The Hungarian Order of Merit was instituted in 1922 under the Regency of Miklós Horthy as the principal state order of the Kingdom of Hungary in the interwar period, awarded in multiple classes for civil and military merit, with swords indicating wartime or combatant distinction, and the 1922 date on the reverse reflecting the year of institution of the Order.