Vatican, City State. A Mentana Cross, Type I Archive each designed with a decorative

each designed with a decorative pleat and gilt metal buttons with pebbled uppers

among them Matthiessen

the obverse with a rightward facing portrait of Kaiser Franz Joseph of Austria

(Orden der württembergischen Krone Bruststern zum Großkreuz)

encompassed by six seed pearls (two of which are missing)

Vatican, City State. A Mentana Cross, Type I Archive each designed with a decorative(Croce "Fidel et Virtuti" detta "di Mentana"). In silver nickel, type I (official type), unmarked, measuring 41. 7 mm (w) x 49. 3 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally pierced ball suspension, incorrect but period ribbon, very light contact, near extremely fine. Footnote: The Mentana Cross was instituted by Pope Pius IX in commemoration of the Battle of Mentana, and the other battles that were fought to protect Rome against Garibaldi. The Cross was