Blackened metal cross potent with original ribbed loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular silvered-edged red enamel medallion centrally imposed bearing the silvered letter ‘ε’ (for Estonia); the reverse with a circular silvered-edged red enamel medallion centrally imposed bearing the date ‘24 II 1919’ (24 February 1919); on replaced but correct trifold ribbon. The Order was instituted on 24 February 1919 by the newly independent state of Estonia on the first anniversary of its declaration of independence and awarded initially for outstanding service in the war of independence against Soviet Russia. The first awards were made in August 1919 to British officers serving with the Estonian forces. The first awards to Estonians were made on 21 February 1920; from 19 June 1925 it was awarded only to foreign citizens. The first insignia were made by Arthus Bertrand in Paris but later examples were made locally and a number of variations are known to exist. This example does not have a mailed arm with an upright sword below the letter ‘ε’ on the medallion of the face and is therefore a civil award. (It was not until 1928 that other Estonian Orders were instituted). A total of just 2,250 awards of this class were made, of which 546 were to non-Estonian citizens. This example was found in Estonia. An excellent example of a rare award.
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