Dahomey, Kingdom (Benin, Republic). An Order Of The Black Star Of Benin, Iii Class Commander, C.1910

(Ordre Etoile Noire du Bénin). Instituted in 1892. Three-piece construction, in silver with blue, white, black, red and green enamels, hallmarked with a boar's head and maker marked "AB & Co" (Arthus Bertrand) on the reverse of the loop, measuring 54.8 mm (w) x 83.5 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath and laterally-pierced ball suspension, tiny chip in the white enamels on the arm at 6 o'clock on the obverse, chipping and crazing evident in the black enamels on the black star on the reverse, on its full-length original neck ribbon, better than very fine.

Footnote:

1. The Order of the Black Star was instituted on August 30, 1892 by Toffa, King of Porto Novo. It became a French Colonial Order on May 10, 1896 and was discontinued in 1963. It was awarded to citizens of Dahomey and France, particularly members of the French armed forces, for services to Dahomey and in the area, in five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight.

2. After enslavement was abolished, France took over the country and renamed it French Dahomey. In 1958, France granted autonomy to the Republic of Dahomey, and full independence on August 1, 1960, which is celebrated each year as Independence Day, a national holiday.The sovereign state has had a tumultuous history since then, with many different democratic governments, military coups, and military governments. A Marxist-Leninist state called the People's Republic of Benin existed between 1975 and 1990. In 1991, it was replaced by the current multi-party Republic of Benin.