Vatican, Papal State. A Cased Order of Pope Pius IX, III. Class Knight, Type I, c. 1880 United Republic of A gilt-edged white enamel cross

A gilt-edged white enamel cross moline

as is customary for most military decorations

unissued badge

Decorations bestowed to American and European recipients are believed to have a 25% survival rate

obverse centre with superposed enamelled white cypher backed by a red enamelled background

Vatican, Papal State. A Cased Order of Pope Pius IX, III. Class Knight, Type I, c. 1880 United Republic of A gilt-edged white enamel cross(Ordine di Pio IX). Instituted June 17th, 1847. (Type I, c. 1880). Constructed of 18kt Gold, consisting of a eight pointed star with blue enameled arms and with flames emanating from the center of the cross between the arms, with a central circular white enameled medallion inscribed Pius IX in gold, surrounded by a Golden ring inscribed with Virtuti et Merito (Virtue and Merit) in capitalized lettering, the reverse with a central circular white