France Medal Nichan Iftikhar ou Nichan Al Iftikhar

[KDVR]

Dear collector friends

Who can tell me more about that medal of Nichan Iftikhar ou Nichan Al Iftikhar:

1. Which period?

2. Manufacturer?

3. Value?

Many thanks

[Hendrik]

Hi,

Well now, I'm afraid I don't recognize the Bey's cypher ! The nearest I can get to it would be the Mohammed Al Habib cypher (1922-1929) but I'd very much like a second opinion ! Perhaps V?t?ran or Bison can shed some light ?

At first glance, I see no maker's marks and so am assuming it's a local, Tunisian, manufactured piece.

Cheers,

Hendrik

[Bison]

Hi Hendrik and KVDR

Sometimes the cypher on the Nichan Iftikhar provides some important vision trouble... as far as they can be engraved with much fantasy. But this is the charm of this kind of medal. I like them !

It looks like a Mohammed Al Habib cypher, but it could also be Mohammed Al Amin 1942-1947, may be, may be http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-2068-1236460723.gif. But I believe it is, because of the recent aspect of this medal and of the ribbon.

Yours seems to be a local manufactured decoration. Sometimes, we can find a tunisian mark on the reverse which is a grape.

Regards

Bison

[Veteran]

Hello gents

This is a nice badge. I agree the cypher is hard to read, this being due to the art of Arabic writing which can be very elaborate.

I would begg to differ with our esteemed colleague Bison as to its possible origin. Most local badges I have ever seen have the silver hallmark, but not all. But mostly, the cypher in the obverse center is usually written in the center piece of the obverse, with the green enamel added. It gives a slighly shabby appearance.

The center piece of this particular badge is a separate part, added over a green enamel background. It gives a very much finer look. The absence of hallmark does not eradicate a French made badge : hallmarks were not compulsary if it was not mean to be sold on French soil. The overall finish is more elaborate than most local products.

I would think it is continental, probably French.

A desirable item, worthy of the best collections. Its value is hard to establish precisely. They can be currently picked up on eBay between 70 and 130 Euro depending on condition, origin and cypher.

Regards

Veteran

[Ed_Haynes]

Hi Hendrik and KVDR

Sometimes the cypher on the Nichan Iftikhar provides some important vision trouble... as far as they can be engraved with much fantasy. But this is the charm of this kind of medal. I like them !

It looks like a Mohammed Al Habib cypher, but it could also be Mohammed Al Amin 1942-1947, may be, may be http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-2068-1236460723.gif. But I believe it is, because of the recent aspect of this medal and of the ribbon.

Yours seems to be a local manufactured decoration. Sometimes, we can find a tunisian mark on the reverse which is a grape.

Regards

Bison

When they are French- (or European-) made, the cypher can be utter rubbish indeed. Tunisian-made examples usually get it right (since they weren't illiterates).

An interesting TUNISIAN award.

[Bison]

I agree with all what it is said above.

Illustration for local Tunisian-made pieces (this one is from Mohammed Al Amin period 1942-1947):

Even if it is totally hand-made and approximately painted, note that it not so rubbish... Consider the translucid rosette behind the cypher

Regards

Bison

[timiron]

Hello

According to me it is clearly a El Amin Bey (1942 to 1957 ) as you can see :

Regards

fred

[Bison]

Hi Fred

Yes you are right, Al Amin Bey period is 1942 - 1957, shame on me

In addition to your document showing the name litteraly, here is the cypher (or one example, I would say):

A a consequence the KVDR medal shows the litteral name of Mohammed Al Amin, but differs from the 'artistic' cypher. So, this is another evidence to say it is a French made decoration.

Regards

Edited March 12, 2009 by Bison

[Garth Thompson]

Here is a Commander grade I recently aquired. I can make no sense of the cypher.

Garth

[Garth Thompson]

Closer view

[Garth Thompson]

This one would be locally made, here is the reverse view with hallmark.

[Veteran]

This one would be locally made, here is the reverse view with hallmark.

This commander's badge was made during the reign of Mohamed es Sadok 1859-1882 and you are quite right, the hallmark on the reverse is typically Tunisian.

Such badges are the true order. European made badges are a lot better to look at, but (to me at least) they don't quite have the romance of the original stuff (I collect both, naturally !)

A lot of new interest is helping Tunisian orders to become better known, and they deserve it. Completing a full set of badges for each reign is quite a challenge...

I really hope you fully enjoy this badge you have.

Regards

Veteran

[Markus]

Hello Gents,

I love this thread! It has helped me ID a lot of Nichan medals. Thanks for everyone's input into this thread! Attached is a Nichan Iftikhar medal that I have been stumped in trying to identify. It must be one of the French medal maker that took great liberties in transcribing the Bey's cipher to the medal. Can anyone steer me into the right direction? I was thinking Sadok or Pacha.

Thanks,

Marcus

Edited February 19, 2011 by Markus

[Noor]

Here is mine French made Nishan al-Iftikhar from Mohammed Al Naceur period, 1906-1922.

[Markus]

Thanks Noor, now I see it as a Mohammed Al Naceur. I have another Naceur that doesn't look even close to this one. Attached is another medal that I have pegged as a Al Amin Bey, that is being shipped to me by snail mail from France. Do you agree this Al Amin Bey period is 1942 - 1957. I am a little confused on this one since a French medal sight( http://www.semon.fr/DECORATIONS_TUNISIENNES.htm) has it listed as a Mohamed el Sadok and Liverpool medals also has it listed as a Sadok

( http://www.liverpoolmedals.com/Order-of-Nichan-Iftikhar.html }

Thanks,

Marcus

Edited February 20, 2011 by Markus

[Veteran]

Hello Noor

I would rather believe your badge to have been made in Tunisia. The enamel is quite typical, as is the silver body of the badge.

A mint mark in Arabic might also be stamped in the back, but not necessarily. Quite my favorites...

Regards

Veteran

[Markus]

O.K. I think Liverpool medals and the French medal site have their ID's wrong. The Mohamed name is the same in the cipher thus leading to the confusion. There are very small differences between Mohamed Sadok cipher and Mohamed Al Amin. I am attaching this guide from the French site Zitoland, since it does a great job on ID's of ciphers.

Regards,

Marcus

[Markus]

I recently acquired a Nichan Aftikhar Sodock medal (Tunisian made) with a green and red striped ribbon. Were all the early Nichan medals with this color of ribbon or were there two ribbons issued like some french colonial medals with one from French government and one from Tunisian government? All the later Nichans seem to come with only a yellow and red striped ribbon.

Markus

Edited March 24, 2011 by Markus

[Veteran]

I recently acquired a Nichan Aftikhar Sodock medal (Tunisian made) with a green and red striped ribbon. Were all the early Nichan medals with this color of ribbon or were there two ribbons issued like some french colonial medals with one from French government and one from Tunisian government? All the later Nichans seem to come with only a yellow and red striped ribbon.

This ribbon is quite all-right. In fact, the rosette is typical of the early ones.

Looks very nice to me.

Veteran

Markus

[hipnos]

I think that the Ifthikar I own, is from Habib bey, -can someone confirm this???- (with some artistic caligraphy, but so is the arabic writings), this one came from Boullanger, Paris. It came with a Finn White rose order, so it seems a diplomatic bar.

Thanks

Miguel

PS/ merry christmas to all of you...

[HenkWillem]

Dear all,

I recently obtained a Nichan al Iftikhar order:

The cypher appears to be the one of Mohamed Sadok, but only rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise. Did this occur more often? It is a locally made order and I am pretty sure they did not always carefully made them according to designs.

And does somebody recognizes the mark on the back?

Thank you in advance!

[Veteran]

It is a nice period piece, locally made by a Tunisian silversmith (hallmark for silver in the back); the center pieces were sometimes clumsily inserted. Or it might have been removed and replaced. Anybodie's gess, I would say.

This order was widely awarded both to Tunisian nationals and to French administrators and military personnel even at rank level. The numbers of Beys (local rulers under French protectorate) and variety of manufacturers (both Tunisian and French). I have a feeling the series is gainiing interest with a larger number of collectors. It is well worth their attention, the various types still being very affordable.