White enamel Maltese cross with ball-tipped finials, with laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with a circular central white enamel medallion bearing the crowned cipher of Adolph of Nassau within a gilt-edged deep blue enamel ring inscribed ‘VIRTUTE’ (Merit) in gilt letters and decorated with gilt laurel leaves; the reverse with a circular central white enamel medallion bearing the dates ‘1292’ and ‘1858’ in gilt-edged black numerals; old hairline cracks to the medallion and left arm of the reverse (see illustrations); on original ribbon with rosette denoting an award of the officer class with staple suspension for wear. The Order was originally established by Duke Adolph of Nassau on 8 May 1858. Abolished when Nassau was subsumed into the German Empire in 1866, it was reinstated as a Grand Ducal order in 1890 and recognises meritorious actions or heroic deeds in the name of Luxembourg. The date 1292 refers to the year in which Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg (1255 to 1298) became king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor. An impressive example of a rare order.
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