1st Class Breast Star of the Order; silver rays, completely set with diamonds; centre medallion with finely enameled face within a gold border and diamond-set outer circlet; plain reverse with convex counter-medallion, this struck with an old, German “15” Loth silver guarantee mark; horizontal, tapering pin. A highly rare beast star, extremely fine condition!
This order was instituted early in 1873 by Nasr al-Din Shah, shortly before his official visit in Europe, as a reward to royal and princely ladies; the 1st Class was reserved to female sovereigns or consorts of male sovereigns. The presence of the German silver mark allows the hypothesis that the piece belonged to the wife of the ruler of a former German state.
Dim.: 66,0 mm; with 186 diamonds for a total of 6.37 ct. I RR!