papal honour / Pope Pius IX / de Valera

Papal honour from Pope Pius IX. Consists of a sash of petersham with blue and red vertical bands. Ends in a bow and from this hangs one of the medallions or pendants (attached to a bow) of brass with eight-pointed blue enamel star affixed to the point of it. Disc placed centrally on top of this with the "Virtuti et Merito" and "Pius IX" on white enamel circle. On back of medallion is another white enamel disc with text "ANNO MDCCCXLVII". The second medallion or brooch would have been affixed to the sash with a pin and is larger and more ornate that the other medallion. Same text as smaller one. Identical structure but the background is of marcasite, rather than brass.;