The Knight’s Cross of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus is one of the most interesting and enigmatic artifacts recovered from the S.S. Central America. 

SS Central America Treasure Medal

Among the interesting and enigmatic artifacts recovered from the S.S. Central America is a medal of the Knight’s Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus found in the first cabin area of the Ship of Gold. Both monastic brotherhoods evolved from 1100 to 1400s, into hereditary military institutions of the nobility within the Catholic Church, combining together in 1572.

Russian General Alexander Suvorov (1730-1800) with the Order of Saint Lazarus Knight Cross.
Antoine 9th Duke of Gramont, (1789-1855), Knight of the Royal Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazare.

Badges of the two orders were combined to form a white-enameled cross bottony of the Order of Saint Maurice, with a green-enameled Maltese Cross, the Cross of the Order of Saint Lazarus, placed in saltire between the arms of the cross bottony.

The Knight’s Cross measures 64 x 60 mm and weighs approximately 30 grams. It is double-sided, each side being practically identical, and in excellent condition, with a slight staining of the raised bottony knobs on each side.

The historic Knight’s Cross is a shipwreck survivor was recovered from approximately 8,000 feet under the Atlantic Ocean from the first SS Central America recovery in 1991.

Passenger Receipt recovered from the S.S. Central America purser’s safe showing the name of Mr. Ange Richon, who was carrying a diplomatic pouch containing information on movements in the Pacific to Paris. He may have been the recipient of the medal or merely was transporting it overseas.

KNIGHT'S CROSS OF THE ORDER OF ST. MAURICE & LAZARUS w/PASSENGER RECEIPT - SS CENTRAL AMERICA TREASURE

KNIGHT’S CROSS OF THE ORDER OF ST. MAURICE & LAZARUS w/PASSENGER RECEIPT – SS CENTRAL AMERICA TREASURE

The Knight’s Cross of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus is one of the most interesting and enigmatic artifacts recovered from the S.S. Central America. 

SS Central America Treasure Medal

Among the interesting and enigmatic artifacts recovered from the S.S. Central America is a medal of the Knight’s Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus found in the first cabin area of the Ship of Gold. Both monastic brotherhoods evolved from 1100 to 1400s, into hereditary military institutions of the nobility within the Catholic Church, combining together in 1572.

The Knight’s Cross measures 64 x 60 mm and weighs approximately 30 grams. It is double-sided, each side being practically identical, and in excellent condition, with a slight staining of the raised bottony knobs on each side.

$25,000.00
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