White enamel ball-tipped Maltese cross with gilt Swedish crowns between the arms, on crown suspension; the face with an oval central medallion bearing a gilt crowned sheaf, emblem of the Vasa dynasty, encircled by a red enamel ring inscribed in gilt characters ‘GUST. D. III INST. MDCCLXXII’ (Gustaf III instituted 1772); the reverse identical; height 25.04mm (0.98 inch), width 16.94mm (0.67 inch); on replaced correct ribbon.
The Order of Vasa was instituted on 29 May 1772 to reward achievement in a number of fields then coming to prominence and importance, such as agriculture, technology and commerce.
The Order has not been presented since 1974.
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