Bavaria, Kingdom. An Order of Military Merit in Gold, Second Class with Swords, by Hemmerle, c.1915

1905-1918 Issue. (Militärverdienstorden Kreuz 2 mit Schwertern). A hollow golden Maltese cross with blue enameled arms 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 gold crowned Bavarian lion within a white enameled border in the form of a buckled belt with gold numbers reading “1866”; suspended from a structure composed of arabesques with gold crossed swords attached; suspended from a broad loop, with its period original shortened wartime ribbon; marked “Geb. H. 750” for “Gebrüder Hemmerle, München” and 75.5% gold purity on the bottom of the six o’clock arm, and “Geb. H. 585” for the same maker, and 58.5% gold purity; measuring 52.08 mm (w) x 60.95 mm (h); weighing 28.5 grams; with the enamels of the reverse three o’clock arm lightly flaked, but in otherwise near mint 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.