Miniature silver Maltese cross with crossed swords and laurel leaves between the arms, with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central medallion with stippled ground bearing the head of Antonio de la Santísima Concepción Nariño y Álvarez facing left; the reverse with a circular central medallion inscribed ‘AME / A MI PATRIA / CUANTO FUE / ESTE AMOR / LO DIRA / LA HISTORIA’ (I have loved my country; only history will say what this love has been); some glue residue and wear to the reverse; diameter 13.48mm (0.53 inch);on a scrap of correct ribbon in the Colombian colours. The Order was instituted on 13 June 1942 in six classes to be awarded for meritorious military service, devotion to duty, outstanding performance in training or staff work and for acts of courage in armed action. Decree 1880 of 12 September 1988 established the Order as Colombia’s highest military award. Antonio Nariño (1765-1824) was a prominent political and military leader in the movement for Colombian independence from Spain. As he was dying, he spoke the words on the reverse of the medal, saying “Put me this epitaph, I want nothing more and nothing less”.
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