Mark of the Legion of honour of the period of the First Empire with an overlay for the wound (?)

France, 1811-15, Silver without stamps, enamel. Tailcoat option. Weight 6 gr. Diameter 26 mm, Satisfactory collectible condition, minor chips to the enamel and traces of restoration. The original tape in the kit. With the sign was purchased bronze plate, made in the Imperial eagle, which, according to our knowledge, was installed on top of the tape in case of awarding the owner for the wound. Guarantee of authenticity.

Historical note: the French Legion of Honor, which became «face» national award system, and one of the most famous awards in the world, was established non-profit organization designed to unite in their ranks worthiest citizens, as the military and civil, rendered significant services to the Republic.

Because of the cancellation of the former convent of the Royal awards as attributes of the monarchy, the worthy citizens were encouraged or a monetary reward, or handing of personal weapons. However, it soon became clear that these measures reward enough, and the First Consul of France, Napoleon Bonaparte on may 4 1802 decided to the institution of the Legion of Honor. Day setting was on 19 may 1802 (29 Floreal X years). Honorary Legion was designed as the organization formed by the Roman model of the cohorts, each of which represented one of the 13 French territories. The order's organization structure was specified by the resolution of July 3, 802 g: Honorary Legion consisted of a Large administrative Council in led President 15 (later - 6) cohorts, including 7 senior officers, 20 Commandino, 30 officers and 350 foreign players each. Remaining time live 1854 owner of the honorable weapons automatically included in the number of legionaries.

July 11, 1804, were established distinctive signs of the Legion of Honor according to the ranks of the organization, and January 30, 1805, was established the highest degree of the order of a Large eagle. Thus, the Legion of Honor received three class: Legionnaire, officer and commander and two rank extent: High officer and the holder of a Large eagle. In 1808 class foreign players was named Chevalier, 1816 class Commandino was named commander; July 19, 1814, a degree of a Great eagle was named Big ribbon, , March 26, 1816 - Grand cross.

the First presentation of insignia was held on 15 July 1804 and awards received approximately 5,000 people, the second mass rewarding (about 2000 people) occurred on August 16. Among the first recipients was only 12 civil violence.

the First pattern badge was a star with the five covered with a white enamel forked rays. The star is framed by a wreath of Laurel and oak leaves, covered with translucent green enamel. In the center medallion, within a blue enamel ring was placed on the profile of Napoleon, and on the ring was the inscription: «NAPOLEON EMP. DES FRANCAIS». On the reverse side, generally similar to the front in the centre of the medallion was placed the image of the Imperial eagle, and on the ring - inscription ’HONNEUR ET PATRIE». With on 14 April 1806 awarded began to get marks, crowned with the Imperial crown, and in 1811 the ends of the beams appeared small balls. Ribbon star, hanging with the signs of the two higher degrees, had a similar view, but with the radiance between the rays, without enamel and the wreath. In its the medallion was placed an image of an eagle and the motto is the same as on the reverse of the token.

the Legion of Honor was so popular in the French army that after the fall of Napoleon, king Louis XVIII was to abolish this reward, and only changed her . In according to order 21 June 1814 at the obverse was placed the image of king Henry IV and label «HENRI IV, ROI DE FRANCE ET DE NAVARRE and eagle on the reverse was replaced three Royal lilies. These same lilies were originally placed and in the medallion of the order of the star, however, already 19 July instead there has appeared the image of king Henry IV.

King Louis Philip the ordinances from 13 25 August 1830, left on the front side of the insignia only name of king «HENRI IV”and on the reverse side inside the blue ring image crossed the state flag and cavalry standard. Star of the order was also decorated with images of flags and banners placed between the beams.

During the Second Republic, according to resolution September 12, 1848, insignia lost his crown, but on the obverse again appeared the image of Napoleon, and label the ring said: «BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL 19 MAI 1802 ; turnover was added circular inscription «REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE and the order's motto was placed in the three string the middle of the medallion together with flag standard. On the star was a portrait of Napoleon, surrounded by the inscription: «BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL - HONNEUR ET PATRIE.

Louis Napoleon decrees from 31 December 1851 and 1 February 1852 returned crowning sign of the crown, on the obverse reads: «NAPOLEON EMP. DES FRANCAIS and on the reverse was to fit the image of the Imperial eagle. Thus in the period of the Second Empire insignia was almost exact copy of the mark period of the First Empire, only the sides of the crown are decorated shamrocks, and images of Imperial eagles.

the Third Republic by decree from , October 28, 1870 radically changed view of the token: now instead of the crown it was crowned with a wreath of Laurel and oak branches, in the center of the sign was placed the image of the female profile is a symbol of the Republic in surrounded by the inscription: «REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE 1870 and on the reverse was left only the motto of the order, crossed around the flag and standard. On the insignia of the star female profile was surrounded by inscriptions and with the obverse side [top), and with reverse (below). With 1915 if the award for military honors along with the sign of the Legion of honour was given the Military cross with the image of the palm on the feed.

In the future, the appearance of the insignia has undergone only minor changes. In the time of the Fourth Republic, the decree of 27 February 1951 with the front side of the insignia has been removed date «1870 and when the Fifth Republic by a decree of November 28, 1962 the order's motto on the reverse side mark was added the date of establishment of the order - «29 FLOREALAN X».

currently, the order has three degree: knight of the (silver sign on the left side of the chest with a red ribbon), the officer (gold badge on the left breast, suspended by tape socket), commander (gold badge on a red ribbon around the neck) and two advantages: High officer (gold badge on tape outlet the left side of the chest and silver star to the right) and knight Grand cross (gold badge on the left thigh on a wide moire ribbon, worn over the right shoulder, and gold star on the left side of the chest).

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Satisfactory collectible condition, slight chips to the enamel and traces of restoration.

French Legion of Honor, has become the "face" of the national award system, as well as one of the most famous orders of the world, was established as a non-profit organization designed to unite in their ranks the most worthy citizens, both military and civil, rendered considerable service to the Republic.

In view of the abolition of the former convent of the Royal medals as attributes of the monarchy, worthy citizens encouraged either by a reward or the presentation of arms. However, it soon became clear that these incentives is not enough, and the First Consul of France Napoleon Bonaparte on may 4, 1802, adopted the decision on the establishment of the Legion of Honor. Day of its establishment has become the 19th of may 1802 (29 Floreal of the year X). - The Legion of honor was conceived in the form of an organization formed on the Roman model of cohorts, each of which represented one of 13 French territories. The structure and order of the organization was concretized by order dated July 3, 802 G.: - the Legion of Honor consisted of a Large administrative Council headed by the President and the 15 (later – 6) cohorts, which included 7 senior officers, 20 commandrow, 30 officers and 350 legionaries each. Remaining at that time in 1854 the living owner of the weapon is automatically included among the legionaries.

July 11, 1804, were established insignia of Legion of honour according to the ranks of the organization, and on January 30, 1805 was established the highest degree of the order – a Great eagle. Thus, the Legion of Honor, received three classes: Legionnaire, officer and commander of rank two and degree: senior officer and officer of Big eagle. In 1808 the class of legionaries was called a cavalier, in 1816, a class of Commandino became known as the commander; on July 19, 1814, degree Big eagle was called the Great belt, and on March 26, 1816, the Grand cross.

The first awarding of the order of the signs took place on 15 July 1804 and awards received approximately 5,000 people, the second mass rewarding (about 2,000 people) took place on August 16. Among the first recipients was only 12 civilians.

The first pattern badge was a star with five white enamelled forked rays. Star framed by a wreath of Laurel and oak leaves, covered with transparent green enamel. In the centre, in a medallion, within a blue enamel ring was placed a profile portrait of Napoleon, and the ring was the inscription: "NAPOLEON EMP. DES FRANCAIS". On the flip side, generally similar to the front in the centre of the medallion was the image of the Imperial eagle, and on the ring – inscription "HONNEUR ET PATRIE". 14 April 1806 awarded began to receive signs, crowned with the Imperial crown, and in 1811, at the ends of the beams had small balls. Ribbon star, worn together with the signs of the two higher degrees, had a similar view, but with the lights between the beams, without enamel and the wreath. In her locket was the image of the eagle and motto, the same as on the reverse of the sign.

The Legion of honour was so popular in the French army, after the fall of Napoleon king Louis XVIII did not abolish the award, but only changed its appearance. In accordance with the Ordinance of 21 June 1814, on the obverse had a depiction of king Henry IV and the inscription "HENRI IV ROI DE FRANCE ET DE NAVARRE", and the eagle on the reverse was replaced by three Royal lilies. These lilies were originally placed in the medallion of the order of the star, however, on July 19 instead of them there appeared the image of king Henry IV.

King Louis Philippe of France by the ordinances of 13 and 25 August 1830, left on the front side of the insignia, only the name of the king "HENRI IV" and on the reverse side inside a blue ring – image crossed state flag and ensign of cavalry. The star of the order was also decorated with images of flags and ensigns, arranged between the beams.

During the Second Republic, in accordance with the decree of 12 September 1848, the insignia has lost the crown, but on the obverse again appeared the image of Napoleon, and the inscription on the outside of his ring read: "BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL 19 MAI 1802"; on the reverse was added the circular inscription "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE" and the motto of the order was placed in three rows in the middle of the medallion, together with a flag and a banner. The star was placed the portrait of Napoleon, surrounded by the inscription: "BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL – HONNEUR ET PATRIE".

Louis Napoleon, by decree dated 31 December 1851 and February 1, 1852, returned tops the mark of the crown, on the obverse appeared the inscription: "NAPOLEON EMP. DES FRANCAIS," and on the reverse was placed the image of an Imperial eagle. Thus in the period of the Second Empire insignia was almost an exact copy of the mark period of the First Empire, only the bow of the crown are not to be decorated with shamrocks and images of Imperial eagles.

The third Republic's decree of 28 October 1870 dramatically altered the appearance of the sign: now instead of the crown he was crowned with a wreath of Laurel and oak branches, in the center of the sign was placed the image of a female profile – the symbol of the Republic surrounded by the inscription: "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE 1870" and on the reverse has been left only the motto of the order, surrounding the crossed flag and standard. On the sash star female profile surrounded by lettering and the obverse [top) and reverse (bottom). Since 1915 when awarding for military honors together with the sign of the Legion of Honor was given the Military cross with palm on ribbon.

In the future the appearance of the insignia has undergone only minor changes. During the Fourth Republic, by decree dated 27 February 1951 from the front of the insignia was removed the date "1870," and under the Fifth Republic by a decree from 28 November 1962 to the order's motto on the reverse of the badge has been added the date of establishment of the order – "FLOREALAN X 29".

Currently the order has three degrees: Chevalier (silver badge on the left chest in red tape), officer (gold badge on the left breast suspended on a ribbon with rosette), commander (gold badge on a crimson velvet ribbon around the neck) and two advantages: senior officers (gold badge on ribbon with rosette on the left chest and a silver star on the right) and the knight Grand cross (gold badge on the left hip on broad watered ribbon, worn over the right shoulder, and a Golden star on the left breast).

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