Spain, Spanish State. An Order of Military Merit Grand Cross Breast Star, II Class, with Red Distinction. GTRexclude before being discharged on July

before being discharged on July 2nd

signed “To Jim Higgins with best wishes

At an unknown date

Berlin) with a sleeve for owner identification

five days shy of his twenty-first birthday

Spain, Spanish State. An Order of Military Merit Grand Cross Breast Star, II Class, with Red Distinction. GTRexclude before being discharged on July(Cruces del Mrito Militar). Instituted in 1864. Type VI (1936 1976). Multiple piece construction, an eight point star with faceted rays, silver gilt and enamels center cross with alternating lions and castilles in each quadrant, vertical pinback with dual stays, unmarked, measuring at 70 mm in diameter, intact enamels, extremely fine. Footnote: The Order was instituted on 3 August 1864 by Queen Isabella II as the Order of Military Merit; since then,