Spain, Kingdom. An Order of Carlos III, III. Class Commander, Type V, in 18kt Gold, c. 1885

(Real y Muy Distinguida Orden de Carlos III). Instituted September 19th, 1771 by King Charles III of Spain, an example of this award of fine craftsmanship, constructed of 18kt Gold, consisting of a Maltese Cross with blue and white enameled arms and ball finials, with a Gold Fleur-de-lis in each quadrant between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a central Gold medallion with a finely crafted hand-painted enameled figure of the Virgin Mary in a white dress with a dark blue enameled wrap, surrounded by a fine blue enameled ring along the exterior, the reverse medallion presents the cypher of Charles III on a blue enameled field, surrounded by a white enameled ring inscribed “Virtuti et Merito” in capitalized letters, suspended from an oval shaped Gold laurel wreath with a blue enameled bow at the base from its period original shortened neck ribbon, unmarked, of delicate craftsmanship with small enamel repair present on the blue enameled surfaces of the Maltese Cross, in near extremely fine condition.