Order of Military Merit, Military Division, Grand Cross

SKU: 01.BAV.0107.201.01

Estimated market value:

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  • Order of Military Merit, Military Division, Grand Cross Miniature Obverse
  • Order of Military Merit, Military Division, Grand Cross Miniature Reverse
  • Order of Military Merit, Military Division, Grand Cross Miniature Obverse
  • Order of Military Merit, Military Division, Grand Cross Miniature Reverse

Attributes

  • country
    Germany
  • date of institution
    July 19, 1866
  • remarks
    The Grand Cross with Swords was awarded from `1891 to 1921. The Grand Cross with Swords and Crown was awarded from 1916 to 1921. Value depends on quality and period of manufacture, materials, maker, and provenance.

Physical Description


A gold Maltese cross with blue enamelled arms and hand etched gold flames in each quadrant. The 12 o'clock arm bears two crossed silver gilt swords. The centre obverse with a central black enamelled medallion bearing a crowned cipher of King Ludwig III and surrounded by a broad white enamelled ring in the form of a buckled belt, inscribed with "MERENTI" (merit) in gold lettering. The reverse centre with a black enamelled medallion bearing a crowned Bavarian lion within a white enamelled border in the form of a buckled belt, in gold numbers reading "1866".

There are examples of the Grand Cross with or without a crown suspension.

History


The Order of Military Merit was established on July 19, 1866 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was Bavaria’s main decoration for acts of bravery and military merit; however, it was ranked below the Military Order of Max Joseph. Military personnel, civilians acting in support of the military, and members of foreign armies were eligible for the Order of Military Merit. If an individual’s act of bravery or merit was exceptional, they qualified for the Military Order of Max Joseph.

The award was initially awarded in five classes: Grand Cross, Grand Commander, Commander, I Class Knight and II Class Knight, and an affiliated Merit Cross. Award ribbons varied based on division and class.
In 1891, swords were donated to all classes for acts of bravery or merit in war. The order could be conferred with or without swords; awards with swords were generally issued during periods of war or combat.

In 1900, the Officer’s class was added to the order. In 1905, the classes were renamed Grand Cross (and Grand Cross Breast Star), I Class Cross (and I Class Breast Star), II Class Cross (and II Class Breast Star), Officer Cross, III Class Cross, IV Class Cross, I Class Knight’s Cross, II Class Knight’s Cross, I Class Military Merit Cross, II Class Military Merit Cross, and III Class Military Merit Cross.
The Grand Cross and I Class Cross were awarded with a Breast Star; the II Class Cross could be awarded with or without a Breast Star. The III Class Cross and IV Class Cross could be awarded with or without a crown. This distinction was generally based on rank.
There was also a Military Merit Cross, which was awarded to Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Men.

Makers of the order include: Eduard Quellhorst, Munich; Hausinger, Munich; Hemmerle, Munich; Jacob Reader, Straubing; Deschler & Sohn, Munich; L. Christian Lauer, Nuremberg; Weiss & Cie, Munich.

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Versions

  • Price

    $15,000 USD

  • Composition

    Gold/Silver Gilt/Enamelled

  • Inscription

    Obv: MERENTI Rev: 1866

  • Size

    74x79mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version does not feature a crown suspension.

  • View Item
  • Price

    $15,000 USD

  • Composition

  • Inscription

  • Size

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version features a crown suspension.

  • View Item

Miniatures

  • Price

    $675 USD

  • Size

    17.5x17.5mm

  • Composition

    Gold/Enamelled

  • Remarks

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