Bavaria, Kingdom. A Royal Merit Order of St. Michael, Merit Cross with Crown

(Verdienstorden vom Heiligen Michael Verdienstkreuz mit Krone). Instituted 16 February 1837 by King Ludwig I. (1910-1918 issue). Constructed of silver, consisting of a Cross Pattée with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing an oval medallion overlaid by a raised depiction of St. Michael trampling the devil, with the Archangel clutching a shield in his left hand bearing a blue enameled inscription of “QUIS ET DEUS” (“WHO IS LIKE GOD?”), the reverse bearing a central circular disc, overlaid by a blue enameled inscription of “VIRTUTI” (“VIRTUE”), topped by a hollow crown suspension on a swivel hinge, in turn retaining a suspension loop connecting to a period original ribbon mounted on a bar with a horizontal pinback and rose-pink wool reverse liner, the suspension loop stamped with a silver content number of “900”, measuring 37.16 mm (w) x 62.79 mm (h), weighing 25.4 grams, in near extremely fine condition.