#11 • Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav Miniature Medal, Knight Class, Military Division

Part of The Jewelry Box- Vintage, Modern & Antique Jewelry Auction (timed auction by Lux Auctions)

High bid $23.00

Status: Sold

This vintage Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav medal is a miniature of the larger official medal. It measures 16mm x 27 mm and is affixed to its original grosgrain red ribbon w/ blue and white stripes. The ribbon measures 2" l x 11/16" wide. The metal is gold-tone and unstamped, no hallmarks. Very good condition: The enamels of white, red and blue are smooth and vibrant. The ribbon is of some age, but is crisp and has no snags. Please see all photos for additional details. Here is some history of this medal: The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav is a prestigious order of chivalry established by King Oscar I on August 21, 1847. Named after King Olav II, who is venerated as St. Olav, this order honors remarkable achievements for the benefit of Norway and humanity. In 1904, shortly before the union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, King Oscar II instituted the Order of the Norwegian Lion. However, no appointments were made by his successor, King Haakon VII, making the Order of St. Olav the sole order of chivalry in Norway for the next 80 years. The reigning monarch of Norway serves as the Grand Master of the order, which has been used to recognize outstanding contributions. Since 1985, the order has been primarily awarded to Norwegian citizens, though foreign heads of state and royalty may still be honored as a courtesy. The Order of Saint Olav consists of three main grades, with some grades further divided into classes. It recognizes both civilian and military contributions, with the Grand Cross being the highest distinction. The collar is a separate honor awarded to recipients of the Grand Cross who are deemed exceptionally worthy. The final class is what this medal represents, the Knight Class. The badge of the Order is a white enamelled Maltese Cross. For the knight class, the cross is silver, while for higher classes it is gilt. Between the arms of the cross are crowned “O” monograms. The central disc on the obverse side is red, showcasing a golden Norwegian lion holding a battle-axe. The reverse disc bears King Oscar’s motto, “Ret og Sandhed” (“Justice and Truth”), and both discs are surrounded by a white-blue-white ring. The cross is topped with a crown, and military awards include crossed swords between the crown and the cross. The ribbon of the Order is red with white-blue-white edge stripes.