Rating and value of military orders and knighthoods

If you own a 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 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 military orders and knighthoods  

Military orders and orders of chivalry are sought-after items for collectors. 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 are sold on the art market ranges from €30 to €150,000, at the moment, a substantial difference but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to these decorations. The Grand Aigle de la Légion d'Honneur dress plate belonging to Portalis, for example, sold for €36,000, whereas it was estimated at between €20,000 and €30,000. Here's a look back at past auctions and more details on these items. 

Value order ranging from simple to prestigious

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

In France, military decorations are classified hierarchically. Emperor Napoleon I introduced them, although others existed before. French decorations or honors fall into six categories. The first is the national orders, which include the Légion d'Honneur (itself with hierarchical orders), the most prestigious decoration.

Orders are more of a reward for an overall work or contribution, while medals are decorations for a specific action at a given time. Today, they are usually awarded in the name of the President of the Republic, but the most valuable are those that belonged to great generals, soldiers, statesmen... in the past and especially during the 19th century.

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. 

Order of the Legion of Honor

The Légion d'Honneur is the oldest award that can be presented today. It was created by Consul Bonaparte in 1802, and can be awarded to both military and civilian personnel. It is not a military medal, which is another award. It is intended to reward individual merit, universal recognition and contribution to the public good. The classic decoration comprises five stars in white enamel, surmounted by a laurel leaf. There are three grades in the Légion d'Honneur: chevalier, officier and commandeur. There are two further dignities: grand officier and grand croix.

The materials used to make decorations vary according to rank and dignity. The most prestigious are made of gold, and some of the older ones are even set with precious stones or diamonds.

The Military Medal and the Order of the Liberation

The Military Medal was created by Napoleon III, and is awarded to non-commissioned officers and soldiers under the motto "Valeur et discipline" (valor and discipline). It is the third most important decoration, after the Ordre National de la Libération. This second distinction was created by General de Gaulle after the Second World War, to reward those who worked for the Liberation of France.

For these two decorations, there are no changes to the materials with which they are made. 

National Order of Merit

This decoration complements the Légion d'Honneur, and is intended to reward both civilians and military personnel. It was also created by General de Gaulle to reorganize the system of French decorations, and includes the same grades and dignities as the Légion d'Honneur. Depending on these criteria, the decoration retains the same shape, but can be in gold or silver, and with different enamel colors.

Foreign military orders and orders of chivalry

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

For example, the Order of St. Stanislaus, created by the Russian Empire, is highly prized at auction, as this decoration is no longer awarded today.

The same is true of the Order of St. Catherine, which was mainly intended for Russian women. Russian military and knighthood decorations are highly sought-after.

Other countries also have their own orders of chivalry, such as Brazil's Order of the Rose, created in 1889.

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.