Silver-gilt stickpin; the face with the head and shoulders portrait of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in military uniform facing left, circumscribed ‘MAXIMILIAN JOSEPH KŒNIG VON BAIERN’; the reverse plain; height overall 55.6mm (2.2 inches), diameter 16.44mm (0.65 inch); on replaced correct ribbon. The medal was instituted on 30 October 1794 by Elector Carl Theodor in gold and silver versions to be awarded for military merit. The current example is of the second Maximilian I Joseph version, designed by Joseph Losch, engraver at the Munich Mint from 1803 to 1826, and issued from 1806 to 1848. Only some five hundred and thirty one full-size examples were awarded.
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