Bavaria - Military Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords

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German Empire, Kingdom of Bavaria, WWI - Bayern Militärverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (3. Form 1913) im Etui by Jacob Leser of Straubing. Reinstituted on December 22, 1913, by King Ludwig III as the fourth endowment, the Bavarian Military Merit Cross was awarded to soldiers for acts of bravery and military merit (with swords). It is constructed out of a multi-piece die struck alpaca base that has been silver washed and contains multi-colored enamel work. The obverse features a pebbled Maltese style cross, with a separately soldered-on enameled roundel that has a centrally placed stylized “L” (King Ludwig) below a king’s crown on a smooth dark blue round backing which is surrounded by: “Merenti” (Merit) to the top and an ornate belt to the bottom, on a white background. The reverse has a separately soldered-on roundel that depicts a rampant lion which is surrounded by “1866” (original institution date) to the top and an ornate belt to the bottom, which lies on that same cross. To the top is a rivetted on crossed broad swords, a decorative ball loop and a ring. The award comes with 3 inches of white, blue and black rayon ribbon. The award measures 2 inches tall by 1 5/8 inches wide. It comes housed in its original issue case. The obverse top features a faded impressed silver foil: “Bayr. M. V. K. 2. Kl.” (Bayern Militärverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse). The interior lid features a gold foil maker mark, which reads: “Hofkunstanstalt Jacob Leser Straubing”. Typical age throughout. The case measures 2 3/8 inches wide by 3 inches deep by 7/8 of an inch thick. A desirable maker.