Bavaria, Kingdom. A Royal Merit Order Of St. Michael In Gold, Iii Class, By Gebrüder Hemmerle, C.1900 Auction Eight Class

Eight Class

slight tears in the blackened canvas liner

The Cross resembles somewhat the Cross for War Merit (Croce al Merito di Guerra) and is often referred to as the "Croce al Merito di Guerra per le Operazioni Militari in Spagna" (Cross for War Merit for the Military Operations in Spain)

the six o’clock arm with a date of “1917”

1917 when the USA entered the First World War

Bavaria, Kingdom. A Royal Merit Order Of St. Michael In Gold, Iii Class, By Gebrüder Hemmerle, C.1900 Auction Eight Class(Kniglicher Verdienstorden vom hl. Michael), III Klasse). Instituted 16 February 1837. A straight armed cross paty constructed of gold and blue enamel arm faced, the obverse bears an ovular centre plate with a raised image of the Archangel Michael on the vanquished dragon, a blue enamel cross is on his breastplate and his shield bears QUIS UT DEUS (Who (is) like God?) in blue enamel, the reverse bears a circular centre plate with VIRTUTI (VIRTUE) in