Bavaria, Kingdom. A Order of Military Merit, War Merit Cross, First Class with Swords
(Militärverdienstkreuz des Militärverdienst-Orden, 1. Klasse mit Schwertern). Issued 1913-1918. A gilded copper Maltese cross, cross pattée with stippled arms; 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 43.18 mm (w) x 43.06 mm (h); weighing 20.8 grams; in overall better than extremely fine condition.

