Austria, Imperial. A Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta, Gold Merit Cross Auction Archive as well as Portuguesse hallmark

as well as Portuguesse hallmark denoting manufacture in Lisbon with

as the comically somnolent appearance belied their true nature

1877-1909 issued

the ends of which are joined together by black threading and finished with a white bow-tied ribbon

European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign

Austria, Imperial. A Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta, Gold Merit Cross Auction Archive as well as Portuguesse hallmark(Souverner Malteseorden Goldenes Verdienskreuz). A Gold Merit Cross constructed of silver gilt, presenting as a Maria Theresa Cross with partially ribbed arms, central medallion with a Maltese Cross circumscribed by MIL. ORDO EQUITUM MELIT. BENE MERENTI (WELL MERITING THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA), reverse with central medallion with raised date of 1916 within wreath, on loop for suspension from its period original civil ribbon,