Serbia, Kingdom. An Order Of The White Eagle, V Class With Swords, Knight, C.1940

Orden Belog Orla. Instituted in 1883. Military Division, Type II (1903-1941). In silver gilt with red, white and blue enamels, Type II with "1882" reverse, measuring 31.8 mm (w) x 68 mm (h) inclusive of its crown suspension, chipping evident in the blue enamels on both sides of the ribbon on the suspension, crazing in the white enamels of the eagle's tail and centrepiece on the obverse, centrepiece along with the adjoining crossed swords and crown suspension are loose, on its original triangular ribbon with hook and eye, fine.

Footnote: The Order of the White Eagle was a Royal Order in the Kingdom of Serbia (1883-1918) and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918-1945). King Milan I of Serbia instituted the Order of the White Eagle on January 23, 1883, concurrently with the Order of St. Sava. The Order had five classes and was conferred on Serbian and Yugoslav citizens for achievements in peace or war, or for special merits to the Crown, the state and nation. In the period between 1883 and 1898, the Order of the White Eagle was the highest award in the Kingdom of Serbia. In 1898, the Royal Order of Miloš the Great took precedence over the White Eagle and in 1904 the former was replaced by the Order of the Karađorđe's Star.