Order of the Garter - King Victor Emanuel II's Investiture Star. The centre is a red cross of St George enamelled on gold encircled by a blue enamelled Garter with chased silver borders, bearing the motto in slightly carved silver letters. The rays are pierced and facetted. The reverse is blank apart from the maker's mark. This Star is similar to the one given to Napoleon III when he was invested with the Garter in April 1855. It was not yet established custom for the Crown to provide metal Stars with any of the Orders. An exception was made when the Garter was given to the two Sovereigns allied with Great Britain during the Crimean War. The Star can be considered the prototype of the later official issue.