King Oscar I of Sweden & Norway
(1847-1859)

  

The Order of St. Olav (Den Kgl. Norske St. Olavs Orden)

The Order of St. Olav was instituted August 21st, 1847 by King Oscar I of Sweden & Norway. The Order is named after the patron saint of Norway, Olav the Holy, who died in the battle of Stiklestad in 1030.

The order is bestowed "for distinguished services rendered to the country and mankind". Today, with the exception of royalty and heads of state, the Order is only awarded to Norwegians.

The reigning monarch (King Harald V) is head of the Order.

The sash and all ribbons for the Order are made from red silk with blue trims on a white border - the national colors of Norway. The sash is worn from right shoulder.  

The Order is divided in five classes: Grand Cross, Commander with Star, Commander, Knight 1st Class and Knight.
                 


Grand Cross

  


Grand Cross Insignia

  

Grand Cross

Current version in gilded silver with sash shown. Breast star in silver

The insignia is worn in collar (not shown) or sash. The insignia is a white-enameled Maltese cross in gold or gilded silver. The obverse features the Norwegian lion on a red medallion with blue/white trim, the reverse a medallion with the text “Ret og Sandhed” (Truth and Justice), the motto of Oscar I. A crowned “O” is placed between each arm of the cross.

This insignia for a military recipient (see Commander and Knight) has a set of crossed blue-enameled swords on the upper arm of the cross.

Insignia from before 1937 (see Knight 1st Class) featured the Norwegian lion above the orb in the crown. Some badges were later re-issued with the lion removed.
 


Grand Cross Breast Star - Obverse


Grand Cross Breast Star - Reverse
The Grand Cross collar (not shown) is made from gold and consists of the following links: 5 crowned “O”’s, 5 State Coat of Arms, and 10 seals of the Archbishop of Trondheim.

The Grand Cross breast star is an 8-pointed star in silver repercé. It features the insignia of the Order, sans the crown, superimposed on top.

The center of the obverse has the name of the manufacturer.

    
                       


Commander Breast Star - Obverse

  


Commander Breast Star - Reverse

  

Commander With Star

1906 version in silver shown.

The Commander with Star breast star is worn along the Commander insignia below. The breast star is a Maltese cross in silver repercé. A crowned “O” is placed between each arm of the cross. The center of the breast star has a medallion identical to the one on the insignia, but with an addition gold ring around it.

The pinholes are unique to the older Commander and Grand Cross breast stars.

Commander

Current civilian and military versions in gilded silver shown.

The Commander insignia is worn by men in a neck ribbon and by women in a bow. The Commander insignia is identical in size to the Grand Cross insignia.


Commander - Obverse

  


Commander - Reverse

  


Military Commander - Obverse

  

Military Commander - Obverse
Military Commander - Reverse

  
                               


Knight 1st Class
Obverse

  


Knight 1st Class
Reverse

  


Military Knight 1st Class
Obverse

  


Military Knight 1st Class
Reverse

  

Knight 1st Class

1906 Knight 1st Class in 18K gold and 1961 Military Knight 1st Class in gilded silver.

The Knight 1st Class is an older version with the Norwegian lion above the orb in the crown, compared to the other Knights crosses with no lion.  The 1961 Military Knight 1st Class is one of the rarest in the collection, the 1961 version has been awarded less than 10 times ever. This beautiful example is in flawless condition.

 
                               

Knight

1906 Knight, 1937 Military Knight miniature and 1937 Knight in silver shown.

The Knight class, which is smaller than Grand Cross and Commander insignia, is worn by men in a straight ribbon and by women in a bow.

Surprisingly the Knight class is the least awarded of any class and exceedingly rare.  All three orders shown are quite hard to obtain.  The Knight class has not been awarded since 1983.

 


Knight - Obverse

  


Knight - Reverse


Knight Obverse

  


Knight - Obverse

  


Knight - Reverse
   


Knight Reverse

    
         


1907 Knight 1st Class Diploma

  


1907 Knight 1st Class Diploma Seal

  

Award Diplomas

1907 Haakon VII, 1908 Haakon VII and 1961 Olav V diplomas shown.

 

 


1908 Knight 2nd Class Diploma

  


1908 Knight 2nd Class Diploma Seal

  


1961 Knight 1st Class Diploma

  


1961 Knight 1st Class Diploma Seal