1693 AD., France, Louis XIV, bronze medal on the Institution of the Military Order of St. Louis, by Jean Mauger, Paris mint, modern restrike.

France, Louis XIV (1643-1715), bronze medal on the Institution of the Military Order of St. Louis, by Jean Mauger, Paris mint, dated 1693 AD., modern restrike,
Medal (ø 41 mm / 43,01 g), bronze, axes medal alignment ↑↑ (0°), plain edge with hallmark cornucopia and incuse letters "BRONZE",
Obv.: LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS / J. MAVGER. F. , his bust facing r.
Rev.: ORDOMILITARIS · S´LVDOVICI A LVDOVICO MAGNO INSTITVTVS · M·DC·XCIII· / BELLICAE VIRTVTIS PRAEMIVM· , a cross belonging to the military order of St. Louis (the Crown of St Louis), at center a sword interlaced with a laurel crown and asash, with the inscription « BELLICAE VIRTUTIS PRAEMIUM ("reward of wartime valour").
cf. ANS 0000.999.44482 , Reference: Med.Fran.146.311C , Reference: Cat.Gen.1.211.G ; cf. ANS 1967.225.779 ( http://numismatics.org/collection/1967.225.779 ) , Reference: Med.Fran.146.311C , Reference: Cat.Gen.1.211.G .

The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis (French: Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louis) was a military Order of Chivalry founded on 5 April 1693 by Louis XIV and named after Saint Louis (Louis IX). It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, and is notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles. It is a predecessor of the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour), with which it shares the red ribbon (though the Légion d'honneur is awarded to military personnel and civilians alike).
Until the death of Louis XIV, the medal was awarded to outstanding officers only, but it gradually came to be an award that most officers would receive during their career. On 1 January 1791, during the French Revolution, a decree changed the name to décoration militaire ("military decoration"). It was subsequently withdrawn on 15 October 1792.
One of the first acts of Louis XVIII was to reinstate the Order of Saint Louis, awarding it to officers of the Royal and Imperial armies alike. In 1830 the new king Louis-Philippe abolished the order, which was never reinstated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Saint_Louis