▁has ▁been ▁alter ed ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁times ▁since ▁the ▁establishment ▁of ▁the ▁order , ▁the ▁most ▁obvious ▁change ▁being ▁the ▁removal ▁of ▁the ▁crown ▁during ▁the ▁periods ▁of ▁republic an ▁rule . ▁The ▁present ▁form ▁of ▁ins ign ias ▁is ▁reg ulated ▁by ▁President ial ▁Dec ree ▁ 8 4 9 / 1 9 7 5 ▁( Φ Ε Κ ▁ 2 7 3 ▁ Α <0xCE> <0x84> / 4 - 1 2 - 1 9 7 5 ). ▁ ▁The ▁original ▁dec ree ▁of ▁ 1 8 3 3 ▁described ▁the ▁bad ge ▁of ▁the ▁Order ▁as ▁consisting ▁of ▁a ▁white ▁en am elled ▁M alt ese ▁cross ▁( sil ver ▁for ▁the ▁Silver ▁Cross , ▁gold ▁for ▁the ▁higher ▁gr ades ), ▁sur mount ed ▁by ▁a ▁crown , ▁set ▁on ▁a ▁green ▁en am elled ▁w re ath , ▁one ▁half ▁of ▁which ▁is ▁an ▁o ak ▁branch ▁and ▁the ▁other ▁half ▁a ▁la ure l ▁branch . ▁The ▁ob verse ▁featured ▁a ▁white ▁cross ▁on ▁a ▁blue ▁background ▁( the ▁coat ▁of ▁arms ▁of ▁Greece ) ▁with ▁Otto ' s ▁Bav arian ▁arms ▁in ▁an ▁in es cut che on ▁in ▁the ▁centre , ▁surrounded ▁by ▁this ▁ins cription ▁on ▁an ▁outer ▁ring : ▁ Η ▁ Δ Ε Ξ Ι Α ▁ Σ Ο Υ ▁ Χ Ε Ι Ρ , ▁ Κ Υ Ρ Ι Ε , ▁ Δ Ε Δ Ο Ξ Α Σ Τ Α Ι ▁ Ε Ν ▁ Ι Σ Χ Υ