Volume 53, Number 2

Fig 1. The Collar of the Order of Carol I

Fig 2. Links from the Collar of the Order of Carol I Fig 3. Romanian Eagle on the Collar of Order of Carol I

Fig 4. Collar Badge of the Order of Carol I

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The Journal of the Orders and Medals Socie _ty of America

Figure 5: Grand Cross Badge Obverse Figure 6: Grand Cross Badge Obverse

Figure 7: Grand Cross Star Obverse Figure 8: Grand Cross Star Reverse

Figure 9: Grand Officer Badge Obverse Figure 1 O: Grand Officer Badge Reverse

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Volume 53, Number 2

The sash for the Grand Cross consisted of light blue moir~ edged with gold containing a red thread, the sash being 101mm in width with a 5mm gold band and .75mm gold thread. The Commander cravat consisted of a 50mm light blue moir~ edged with a 3.5mm gold stripe and a red stripe .5mm in width mm.

Awards of the Order were extremely limited as to Romanian citizens as follows:

Collar: 5 (increased to 10 in 1938 by Royal Decree No. 914, February 22, 1938, Monitorul Oficial No. 451 February 23, 1938)

Grand Cross: 10 (increased to 20 by the above decree in 1938),

Grand Officer: 25

Commander: 40.

Exceptions to this rule were the awards to the members of the Romanian royal family and to foreign recipients. Upon turning 18 the princes of Romania were entitled to an award of the Collar of Carol I Order together with the Grand Cross sash badge and breast star. King Carol II abolished the Grand Officer and Commander classes on April 15, 1932. The Collar, Grand Cross sash badge and breast star of the Order with diamonds were awarded on September 19, 1907 to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Abdul Hamid II. The Sultan’s insignia is displayed at the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Known manufacturers of the insignia are Paul Telge of Berlin and Joseph Resch of Romania. A French made Collar has been observed with smaller dimensions.

The only serial numbers encountered were on the clasp portion of the Collar and no serial number has been observed on the star or badge. The observed badges have been without hallmarks. The breast stars have hallmarks observed on the pin as follows: IR and JRF (Joseph Resch) and the hnage of a Swan (believed to be Telge).

King Michael was forced to abdicate the Romanian throne on December 30, 1947 by the Romanian Communist Party. The proclamation of the Romanian People’s Republic on the same day caused the Order to become obsolete. During his exile, King Michael has allegedly continued to confer the order.

Ackn owledgements

Renardt A. Iancu of Constanta, Romania provided the research and translation regarding the MonitoruI Oficial documents. Mr. Iancu is an engineer in Romania and has been an avid collector of world orders and medals for many years. Mr. Iancu is currently working on two detailed reference works on Romanian awards from 1860 to present and Romanian prizes, honor, and qualification badges.

Bibliography:

A History of Romania Iasi, Center for Romanian Studies,. 1997)

Hitchins, Keith, Rumania 1866-1947, London, Oxford University

Press. 1994.

Kellogg, Frederick, The Road to Romanian Independence,

Purdue University Press. 1995.

Klietmann, Dr. Kurt-Gerhard. Phaleristik Rumiinien. Berlin

1975.

Safta, Jipa, Velter, & Marinescu. Decoratii Romdnesti De Razboi

(1860-1947). Bucharest. 1993.

Stefan, Neculae, & Dumitrascu. Romania Decoratii (1859-1991).

Bucharest 1992.

In the News

The January 2002 issue of The American Legion

Magazine reported that 105-year-old World War I

veteran Gustave Streeter was presented with the Purple Heart at the John J. Pershing Auditorium in

Indianapolis on 8 November 2001. The medal was

presented by Major General George Buskirk, the Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard. The

presentation ceremony was attended by about 300

people who responded with many rounds of applause

and several standing ovations. This would appear to be one of the last Purple Hearts awarded for wounds

in World War I.

Submitted by Mark A. Steg, OMSA No. 5593

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