Portugal, Kingdom. An Order of Military Merit, Grand Officer’s Star, by Da Costa consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac the ends of the sweatband

the ends of the sweatband stitched together at the rear with white threading

the reverse retaining a fully-intact black paper liner bearing the maker’s logo of Hermann Schmuck & Cie

The blade sits securely within a nickel-plated zink upper crossguard which is marked with eight notches

illustrating an upward pointing arrow flanked by the initials "E L" and oak leaves

Portugal, Kingdom. An Order of Military Merit, Grand Officer’s Star, by Da Costa consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac the ends of the sweatband(Ordem do Mrito Militar). Instituted 1946. In silver gilt, a star featuring clusters of three smooth rays, the obverse medallion in red and white enamels bearing the inscription MERITO MILITAR, the reverse presents a vertical pin assembly, maker marked FREDERICO DA COSTA LISBOA, measures 73. 7 mm (w) x 74 mm (h), weighs 62. 8 grams, small cracks in the white enamel cross, areas of slight gilt loss, remains near extremely fine.