RARE OFFICER CLASS ORDER OF MERIT CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

40mm wide white enamel Maltese cross with black enamel edges and gilt ball-tipped finials, with gilt and green and red enamel laurel wreath between the arms, on swivel oval gilt and green enamel palm wreath suspension; the face with a circular central black enamel medallion bearing a gilt five-pointed star within a pale blue enamel ring; the reverse with a circular central black enamel medallion dated ‘1959’ and circumscribed ‘MERITE CENTRAFRICAIN’ in gilt letters within a pale blue enamel ring; on original ribbon with rosette denoting an award of the ‘officer’ class.