2024 rating and value of Spanish military orders and decorations

If you own a Spanish military order or order of chivalry, and would like to know its value and, if you don't know, the period and model of the decoration, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their expert appraisal services. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Then, if you wish to sell your work, we'll guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.  

Rating and value of Spanish military orders and knighthoods

Military orders and orders of chivalry are highly sought-after items by collectors, particularly Spanish orders. However, price differences can be considerable, depending on the order, its state of preservation, the person to whom it belonged, and other criteria. Nowadays, prices for these objects can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer. Buyers from all over the world are interested in the sale of certain rare pieces. The price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €50 to €11,870, for the time being, a substantial gap but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to these decorations. In 2017, a silver and enamel Royal Order of Saint Ferdinand and Merit that belonged to Principe Philippe de Bourbon sold for €11,870, whereas its estimate was between €400 and €800.

Value order ranging from simple to prestigious

A look back at the history of Spanish military orders and orders of chivalry  

As in France, Spanish military orders have a hierarchy. The oldest decoration dates back to the 12th century, and was created following bloody battles on the Calatrava plain during the Wars of Religion. The order was created by Raymond de Fitero, and became an order of pontifical right thanks to the support of Pope Alexander III. It disappeared in 1873, after many others had been created.

Here's a summary of some of the most famous.

The Order of Isabella the Catholic

The Order of Isabella the Catholic was instituted in Spain in 1815 by Ferdinand VII, following conflicts in the Spanish colonies in the American territory. To reward those who had fought, the King of Spain (1808, then 1813 - 1833) created this order under the protection of Isabella the Catholic, Queen of Portugal and canonized by the Church a posteriori.

It consists of an eight-pointed star and the emblem of America. It is a civil order still awarded today by the Kingdom of Spain.

The Order of Saint Ferdinand  

The Order of Saint Ferdinand is a military order created by the Cortes de Cadiz (Constituent Assembly) in 1811, during the Spanish War of Independence, when the Spanish throne was in the hands of the French Empire. It was approved by King Ferdinand VII on his return from the front. Comprising 5 grades, the medal is a 4-pointed, 8-pointed star surrounded by laurel leaves and crowned with a wreath. 

Foreign military orders and orders of chivalry

Of course, foreign orders are also auctioned in France and are also highly prized.

For example, the orders of the First French Empire are highly sought-after, and the Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor can easily fetch millions of euros.

Reasons to auction a military order or an order of chivalry  

If you own a military or knightly order and don't know how to sell it, auctions are a solution. Indeed, collectors use this medium to find models that correspond to a particular battle or that belonged to their ancestors. Prices can reach unprecedented heights.

Know the value of a military order or knighthood

If you own a military or knightly decoration and would like to know its value, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your piece, as well as any relevant information about it. If you wish to sell your property, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.