Royal Order of the Lion This Order Was Created by King Leopold II, As King of the Independent Congo Free State, in 1891. in 1908
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Royal Order of the Lion The Medal of the Order (Figure 8) incorporates the central de’sign of the Order’s planchet, a crowned, This Order was created by King Leopold II, as King of rampant lion surrounded by the motto, TRAVAIL ET the Independent Congo Free State, in 1891. In 1908, it PROGRES. The reverse features the royal cipher of was incorporated as a colonial order into the Belgian Leopold II. The bilingual version (those issued after awards system. The Order was awarded in the five October 1951) of the gold Medal of the Order reflects traditional European classes (Grand Cross (Figure 5), this motto in French (above) and Flemish (below). The Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight) and last awards were in 1962. three medals (gold, silver and bronze) for meritorious services to the Belgian colony or its sovereign. Figure 8: Bronze Medal of the Order of the Lion. Order of the Crown Figure 7: Reverse of the badge of a Knight Leopold II created the Order in 1897 as King of the of the Order of the Lion. Independent Congo Free State, and later, in 1908, it was incorporated into the Belgian awards system. It was The Order’s badge (Figure 6) has two intertwined letters awarded for distinguished artistic, literary or scientific C (for Congo) between the white enamel arms of the service in the commercial or industrial field or for long modified Cross patee outlined in blue enamel. The service to the country or in Africa. The same ribbon reverse bears the letter L (for Leopold II) intertwined emblems or ribbon variations as with the Leopold I Order with the letter S (for Sovereign). The Order’s motto, have been instituted for this Order as well. It is awarded TRAVAIL ET PROGRES, surrounds the obverse central in the following classes: (1) Grand Cross (Figure 9), (2) medallion, which features a gilt, crowned, rampant lion Grand Officer, (3) Commander, (4) Officer, (5) Knight, on blue enamel. The reverse (Figure 7) features the royal (6) two Palms (gold and silver)(Figure 10), and (7) three cipher of Leopold II on red enamel. Manufacturing medals (gold, silver and bronze)(Figure 11). variances do exist. On fakes of this Order, the red enamel on the reverse appears pinkish. The obverse (Figure 12) is a five-armed, white enamel Maltese cross. Five sets of gilt rays are interspersed to Vol. 56, No. 2 5 Figure 9: Star of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown. Figure 13: Leopold H’s personal Grand Cross Star of the Order of the Crown. Figure 10: Gilt Palms of the Figure 11: Gilt Medal of the Figure 12: Obverse of the badge of a Order of the Crown. Order of the Crown. Knight of the Order of the Crown. 6 JOMSA Figure 14: Grand Cross star of the Order of Leopold II. Figure 15: Grand Cross sash badge of the Order of Leopold II. This badge and the star in Figure 14 form a Grand Cross set manufactured by Wolfers. Figure 16: Version 1 Officer’s Badge Figure 17: Obverse of the badge of a Figure 18: Reverse of the badge of a of the Order of Leopold II. Knight of the Order of Leopold IL Knight of the Order of Leopold II. Vol. 56, No. 2 7 .