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Miniature silver five-pointed ball-tipped star, with a laurel wreath between the arms, the suspension a condor of the Andes with wings spread; the face now lacking the circular central medallion; the reverse with a circular central medallion with a laurel branch within a ring inscribed ‘AL MERITO’; height 20.53mm (0.81 inch), width 14.62mm (0.57 inch); on replaced correct ribbon. The order was established in 1910 and is the highest Chilean honour. It is unusual in that both it and the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins are reserved solely for award to non-Chileans who have achieved distinction not only in the realms of diplomacy and politics but also the arts, charitable works and other fields. This example dates from the early 1950s and was made by De Greef of Brussels.
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