Italy, Kingdom of Two Sicilies. A Royal Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit, Grand Cross Breast Star, in Gold, c. 1805 certificate_of_authenticity It was issued in the

It was issued in the field on April 20th

It was not designed to be worn

104 of which were awarded

The lower edge of the cap band is flanked by pebbled buttons which accommodate a chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire

Italy, Kingdom of Two Sicilies. A Royal Order of Saint Ferdinand and of Merit, Grand Cross Breast Star, in Gold, c. 1805 certificate_of_authenticity It was issued in the(Ordine Reale di San Ferdinando e al Merito). Instituted April 1, 1800 by Ferdinand IV, King of Naples. An early Napoleonic star, a silver star with clusters of delicately faceted rays, with a faceted Fleur de Lis in each quadrant, the obverse medallion featuring a Gold and enamelled figure of St. Ferdinand superimposed on a Gold disc, encircled by a blue enamelled ring inscribed FIDEI ET MERITO in the bottom half, the reverse offers a dual pronged