Romania Order of the Cross of Queen Marie, IV Class 1917

Bronze cross potent rebated barbée with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the crowned cipher of Queen Maria centrally; the reverse with the date ‘1917’ centrally; slight age oxidisation spots; on non-original ribbon. The Order was instituted on 15 March 1917 in four classes and was awarded to both military and civilians for medical work during World War I and World War II. Queen Marie of Romania, eldest daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, was the wife of King Ferdinand and a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria. She became a Romanian patriot and her influence in the country was considerable. She volunteered as a Red Cross nurse during the war and raised funds with her book ‘My Country’. A good example of an unusual and rare order. Condition II.