18k gold Order of Carlos III MEDAL Charles III Officer\'s Cross Spain Spanish For Sale

This beautiful medal (or decoration, if you prefer) just came out of an estate here in San Francisco. It is an Officer\'s Cross of the Order of Carlos III (also known as Charles III). That royal order was founded in 1771 by King Charles III of Spain and it continues to be conferred upon worthy people by the Spanish monarch. It is the highest civil order awarded in Spain. I do not know how it came to be owned by the elderly gentleman whose estate it was in, but I doubt it was awarded to him, as he seemed to have always lived in the US and had no significant dealings with Spain, so far as I know.More often than not, Officers\' Crosses are made in gilt-silver or gilt-bronze, but this example was produced in solid 18k gold and enamel, and to a very high standard. I had it tested with an XRF gun (x-ray flourescence analyzer) and it determined the contents to be 75% gold (i.e., 18k), with the remainder in silver, copper and a few other metals. It weighs 11.2 grams which, excluding the weight of the enamel, gives it a scrap value of well over $300. It measures 32mm wide by 51mm tall, excluding the suspension loop. I guarantee 100% that it is made of solid 18k gold.The medal\'s condition is very good, with the following things to note: there is a tiny loss to the blue enamel of the oval cartouche behind the Virgin Mary (upper-left portion) of about 1x3mm. The light blue-green enamel on the bow that attaches the wreath to the medal also has tiny cracks and losses to it that are visible under a loupe, as does the enamel on the Virgin Mary. These faults are barely visible and do not detract from the appeal of the medal. The medal, wreath and suspension loop are otherwise undamaged that I can see, are straight and with no evidence of repairs. It\'s a beautiful medal and it displays very handsomely. Here on , there are currently four Carlos III medals available: an inferior example in 18k gold (of unlisted weight) for $662, a gilt-bronze version for $700 (!), a set of a gilt-silver full-size medal with a gold mini for $950, and a Grand Cross in 18k for $1,900. I\'ve priced this one below any other example like it that I\'ve been able to find on-line. Make it yours!Please note that I only accept returns if I have misrepresented the item; otherwise, all items are sold as-is, with no returns.