(Real y Militar Orden de San Fernando). Instituted by the General Courts of Cadiz in 1811, approved by King Fernando VII in 1814. Type II. 1815-1875 Issue. Of French manufacture, a fine miniature example constructed of Gold, consisting of a nicely enameled white Maltese Cross with ball finials, surrounded by a delicate enameled green laurel wreath in each quadrant, as well as a surmounted flat laurel wreath in green enamels, the obverse exhibiting a figure of St. Ferdinand encircled by the inscription AL MERITO MILITAR (To Military Merit), the reverse with typical gilded insignia with the inscription EL REY Y LA PATRIA (The King and Fatherland), presenting French hallmark denoting made in Paris guarantee for small Gold items, measuring 12.28 mm (w) x 20.31 mm (h - inclusive laurel suspension and its integral ball), weighting , minor loss of green enamel, with minor cracked white enamel, suspended by old-fashioned ring suspension on a replacement ribbon, extremely fine.
Footnote: The Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand was originally founded by the General Courts of Cadiz as a National Order on August 31, 1811, and it was approved by King Fernando VII of Spain on November 28, 1814, right after the restoration of his throne. It was instituted to reward the military personnel who participated in the Peninsular War against Napoleonic between 1807-1814. On this occasion, the Order was mainly conferred upon European royal armies from Spain, Great Britain, Portugal, and France.