Bavaria. A Military Merit Order, Fourth Class with Swords, by the Gebrüder Hemmerle, c.1915

1905-1918 Issue. (Militärverdienstorden Kreuz 4. Klasse mit Schwertern); a silver Maltese cross with four arms in blue enamels, and flames between the arms of the cross; the obverse with a central black enameled medallion bearing a gold crowned cipher of King Ludwig III within a white enameled border in the form of a buckled belt with gold letters reading “Merenti” (Latin - “Merit”); the reverse with a central black enameled medallion bearing a silver crowned Bavarian lion within a white enameled border in the form of a buckled belt with silver numbers reading “1866” in gold; suspended from a structure composed of arabesques, with crossed swords attached, and a loop with its period original ribbon - with a collector’s tag attached to the reverse; marked “900” for silver content on the swords, and “980” as well as “G.H” on the cross for silver content and “Gebrüder Hemmerle, München”; measuring 40.78 mm (w) x 49.05 mm (h); weighing 27.1 grams; with chipped enamels on the obverse, on the six and three o’clock arm; in overall near very fine condition.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.