This Order of Merit was awarded by Ranjit Singh,'Lion of the Punjab', to Sir Frederick Currie,Bart. D.C.L. (1799-1875) who served in India from 1818 to 1853. In 1842 he was appointed secretary to the foreign department of the government of India, and at the conclusion of the first Sikh war he was selected to draw up the treaty of peace with the Sikhs. He also made arrangements for the settlement of the Punjab, and for such services was praised in the highest terms for his 'tact and ability'. It was no doubt for this tact and ability that Ranjit Singh awarded Sir Frederick the Star of the Punjab.

The Auspicious Star of the Punjab was created by Ranjit Singh in emulation of the French Legion d'Honneur, and probably contained his own portrait. However other similar medals do exist with different portraits, suggesting that subsequent rulers continued to award the star, inserting their portrait in the place of Ranjit Singh's. The colours of the glass in the arms of the stars also vary.

McClenaghan,A.N.: General Henry Charles Van Cortland, The Orders and Medals Research Society, Autumn 1991, pp.182-186.
Guy and Swallow: Arts of India:1550-1900, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990, fig.166.