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Miniature gilt and blue and white enamel Maltese cross with loop for ribbon suspension, the arms of white enamel within a blue border; the face a circular central medallion bearing the blue and white enamel lesser arms of Bavaria; the reverse with a circular central medallion bearing the ‘Lion of Sponheim’ panthier in gilt on a black ground; diameter 14.9mm (0.58 inch); on original ribbon.
The Order of Merit of the Free State of Bavaria Order was instituted on 11 June 1957 in a single class and is conferred on women and men irrespective of nationality, being awarded by the Minister-President of Bavaria on a yearly basis as a sign of grateful recognition for outstanding achievements and service rendered to the Free State of Bavaria and the Bavarian people’ (Zeichen ehrender und dankbarer Anerkennung für hervorragende Verdienste um den Freistaat Bayern und das bayerische Volk).
The number of living members of the order is limited to two thousand and it has been awarded fewer than six thousand times in all.
It was designed and is produced by Gebrüder Hemmerle of Munich, formerly by appointment to the Royal Bavarian Court.
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