Bavaria, Kingdom. A Military Merit Order of St. Michael Merit Cross, III Class with Swords, c.1915
(Militar Verdienstorden) Instituted 19 July 1866. A Maltese cross paty constructed of gilded copper, the obverse centre bears a medallion with a crowned “L” cipher on a black enamel background, encompassed by a white enamel border detailed to resemble a belt with the inscription “MERENTI”, the cross arms are pebbled, the reverse centre bears a crowned lion rampant encompassed by a border detailed to resemble a belt with the date “1866”, the obverse top bears two upwards facing crossed swords, with suspension loop on a white, blue and black striped ribbon, measuring 43.40 mm (w) x51.20 mm (h), very fine.

