Bavaria, Kingdom. A Military Merit Order War Merit Cross, First Class

(Militärverdienstkreuz des Militärverdienstorden 1. Klasse). Issued 1913-1918. A Maltese cross in gilded silver; the obverse with a central medallion bearing the crowned cipher of King Ludwig II within a border in the form of a buckled belt inscribed with lettering reading “Merenti” (Latin - “Merit”); the reverse with a central medallion bearing a crowned Bavarian lion within a border in the form of a buckled belt with numbers reading “1866”; suspended from a structure composed of arabesques, with a loop for suspension; measuring 41.76 mm (w) x 41.88 mm (h); weighing 19.5 grams; in overall better than extremely fine condition.