Spain, Franco Period. A War Cross, c. 1940

 (Cruz de Guerra). Instituted in 1938. 1937-1942 Issue. Constructed of silver and multi-coloured enamels, a eight-pointed star with multiple rays between the arms and both with multi-faceted surfaces, with a central cross with a laurel wreath and crossed swords in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, bearing a central medallion bearing the Coat of Arms of Castile, Leóne, Aragon, Navarre, and Granada, constructed of red and white enameled quadrants, with the white quadrants bearing gilded rampant lions and the red quadrants with gilded towers, along with an oval central blue enameled medallion bearing a gilded rose, surrounded by a ring of blue enamels with the inscription of “Al Merito en Campaña”, the reverse is plain, with a functional vertical pinback that is flanked on both sides by down-ward sloped “S” stabilizer pins for secure attachment to a uniform, unmarked, measuring 63.1 mm (w) x 64.0 mm (l), weighing 43.00, exhibiting some loss of gilt due to age and wear to the central cross and wreath, but with pleasant patina on the silver from age and the enamels well preserved, in overall near extremely fine condition.