Spain. Order of Civil Merit, Commander Category. Enameled Silver.

This stunning piece is a Spanish medal manufactured and awarded during Francisco Francos mandate. It is the Order of the Civil Merit, Commander class a medal designed to hang from a silk ribbon in two colors, blue and White. The order recognizes the civic virtue of officers in the service of the Nation, as well as extraordinary service by Spanish and foreign citizens for the benefit of Spain. It boasts a delicate design, elegant and sober, and is made of enameled gold-plated silver. The dark blue oval located in the center bears the inscription AL MÉRITO CIVIL (to the civil merit). This order was established by King Alfonso XII on June, 25th 1926. It was proposed to him by Miguel Primo de Rivera who was then the President of the Council of Ministers. The first Regulation of the Order was published in May of 1927. During the II Republic of Spain the Order was suppressed but it was restituted in 1942, after Francisco Franco won the Civil War. Once restituted, the Order recovered all its characteristics, privileges and antiquity. Today is awarded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The medals design shows a gold-plated cross composed of ray beams with a bright blue oval that contains the mentioned inscription. The set is topped by a nice crown. Over the crown we can see a laurel wreath with a green enameled decoration; the wreath is connected to a silver ring designed to hang the medal from the ribbon. The ray beams and the crown boast a delicate engraving work that creates subtle reliefs on the silver surface. This stunning medal will delight any collector of military antiques. It is a remarkable piece for any self-respecting collection. Measurements: Width: 48 mm. Height (without ring): 74 mm.