Spain, Kingdom. A Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III, Commander, c.1880

(Real y Muy Distinguida Orden de Carlos III). Instituted September 19th, 1771 by King Charles III of Spain. In bronze gilt, consisting of a Maltese Cross with blue and white enamelled arms and ball finials, with a Fleur-de-lis in each quadrant between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a central medallion with a finely crafted hand-painted enamelled figure of the virgin May in a white dress with a dark blue enamelled wrap, surrounded by a fine blue enamelled ring along the exterior, the reverse medallion presents the cypher of Charles III on a blue enamelled field, surrounded by a white enamelled ring inscribed “Virtuti et Merito” in capitalized letters, suspended from an oval shaped laurel wreath from its c.1930 full length neck ribbon, unmarked, measures 55.2 mm (w) x 81.2 mm (h), enamels intact, in extremely fine condition.