Austria, Imperial. A Miniature Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, Cross of Merit

(Italian: Sovrano militare ordine di Malta; Latin: Supremus Ordo Militaris Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani Rhodius et Melitensis). In bronze gilt with red and white enamels, measuring 15 mm (w) x 40 mm (h) inclusive of its crown and trophy of arms suspension, crazing evident in the white enamels on the arms, otherwise the enamels are intact, on its original bow-tied ribbon with safety pin attachment, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) or the Order of Malta, is a Catholic lay religious order traditionally of military, chivalrous and noble nature.