Decoration of chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, 1st type. Very limited number

First type had no balls on extremities of cross, and no crown to top it.
This type was used from middle of 1804, till april 1806
Sold without ribbon. 37 mm diameter

Compare the quality and the price of our production with copies made some years ago, and feel the difference!

Order of Légion d'Honneur was instituted on 11 th july 1804. First distributions were made in les Invalides and then in "camp de Boulogne" on august 1804
Capitaine Coignet was decorated at the very begiining of the institution.
Légion d'honneur survived after Empire and continue to be attributed, eagle and Napoleon head have been replacde by Marianne, and tricolor flags.
Great novelty was the fact that this decoration could be attributed to civilian and soldiers, whatever their social conditions and religion were.