Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Posted October 29, 2006 Among my other minor areas, I collect and try to study the awards of Afghanistan, from the earliest awards to the present, though with a special interest in the awards of the People's Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (roughly 1978-92).Studying and collecting these things is immensely difficult and almost no reliable sources exist.I'll post a few things from the kingdom, the republic(s), and some unknown items. No good source exists for the kingdom, though one has been rumored for some time, for the PDRA ("Soviet") period, we have only State Awards of Afghanistan, by G. Tisov and V. Shirshov (Moscow: ca. 1998). The Tislov and Shirshov is (1) in Russian, (2) only addresses military awards, and (3) just 72 pages, but it is, so far, all we have. What fun!
Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 (edited) KingdomNishan-i-Istiqlal / Order of IndependenceBreast star of (??) 2nd class. The order came in seven classes (created 1911, obsolete with the 1974 revolution). It seems the center part has been repaired if not outright replaced. The badge is 87 mm. Edited October 29, 2006 by Ed_Haynes
Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 KingdomNishan-i-Lmar-i-Ala / Order of the SunFounded in 1920 and obsolete in 1974. It came in seven classes and two medals. This is believed to be the third class (numbered "3" on obverse). Interestingly, it is numbered on the reverse. The badge is 80 mm.
Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 KingdomNishan-i-Lmar-i-Ala / Order of the SunAs above. Likely 4th class (numbered "4" on obverse). The badge is 60 mm.
Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 KingdomNishan-i-Sardar / Order of the LeaderCreated 1922 and also lapsed into obsolescence in 1973. In five classes plus two medals; these are those, silver and bronze (there MAY have been a gold medal also?). Medals 36 mm.
Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 (edited) KingdomNishan-i-Shujjat / Order of the GallantryImperfectly documented. Here it is anyway. The star is 70 mm. Edited October 29, 2006 by Ed_Haynes
Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 KingdomUnknownThis has been seen described as the "Order of Independence", which it isn't. Whatever it is, this is the fourth class of it. The badge is 65 mm.
Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 (edited) KingdomUnknownI do not even KNOW this is Afghan, but I think it is. Here it is anyway. The star is 65 mm. Edited October 29, 2006 by Ed_Haynes
Ed_Haynes Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 (edited) KingdomKabul 1880 MedalI have seen references that a medal was issued in 1880 to the defenders of Kabul against the British attack in the Second Afghan War. I have never seen it illustrated, but I think this may be it. The medal is 30 mm. This specimen is (obviously) badly worn. Edited October 29, 2006 by Ed_Haynes
Eric Schena Posted November 1, 2006 Posted November 1, 2006 Hi Ed:While I don't have much to add constructively, I would like to say thank you very much for showing these medals. As a kindred spirit in the realm of "studying the unstudied", I can share in your enthusiasm for these obscure medals. I still have one Afghan decoration from the Barakzai period that I have absolutely no clue what it is. Cheers,Eric
peter monahan Posted November 1, 2006 Posted November 1, 2006 KingdomKabul 1880 MedalI have seen references that a medal was issued in 1880 to the defenders of Kabul against the British attack in the Second Afghan War. I have never seen it illustrated, but I think this may be it. The medal is 30 mm. This specimen is (obviously) badly worn.This is fascinating! Just as the "Tommies" were surprised that the Afghan Army - as opposed to the tribal "badmashes" - wore uniforms, marched in line, etc., I'm ashamed to say I was surprised that the Afghan government (Nur Shah?) issued medals. I suppose I thought of it as a European custom plus, of course, a little latent racism showing through. Thanks for the eye-opener, Ed!Peter
pmargulies Posted November 1, 2006 Posted November 1, 2006 Ed - Kingdom stuff is very interesting...I wonder, somewhat aloud, about some of the orders. I saw exemplars of all of the medals you show while I was in Afghanistan - none were generally more than 20.00 US. I was always told these were locally produced medals - hence their low price. And then there were those produced by European manufacturers. The quality on the later is much better. Have you also run across this in collecting Afghan orders and medals, specifically for the Kingdom period?
Ed_Haynes Posted November 1, 2006 Author Posted November 1, 2006 Ed - Kingdom stuff is very interesting...I wonder, somewhat aloud, about some of the orders. I saw exemplars of all of the medals you show while I was in Afghanistan - none were generally more than 20.00 US. I was always told these were locally produced medals - hence their low price. And then there were those produced by European manufacturers. The quality on the later is much better. Have you also run across this in collecting Afghan orders and medals, specifically for the Kingdom period?Ansolutely! The higher classes of the Kingdom awards (especially in the 1930s and again in the 1950s-60s), were European made or Indian made, but most other stuff was locally produced. Will be posting more, kingdom, republic, and PDRA.
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 A few more . . . KingdomNorthern Rebellion Campaign of 1930For the suppression of the Habibullah Khan "Bacha-i-Sawaq" rebellion of 1929/30.This may be an officer's star?
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 KingdomLoya Jirgah 1343 MedalAwarded for the 1965 (C.E.) Loya Jirgah. A Loya Jirgah is a large tribal assembly to approve or make policy; the term can, perhaps, be glossed as "parliament". The legend makes that much clear. Beyond that, . . . ???
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 KingdomIndependence Medal 1309Extremely tentative identification. For Afghanistan's "independence" in 1931?
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 KingdomService Medal, Muhammad Zahir Shah (r. 1933-73)
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 KingdomMa'aref (Education) Order (1960-73)This, apparently, came in two classes/types?
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 KingdomTetschdatat (Trade) Medal (1933-60)
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 KingdomWartia (Merit) Medal (1960-73)Came, obviously and apparently, in at least two classes.Made by a firm that may be familiar to denizens of other fora here, Deschler und Sohn, M?nchen.
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 KingdomHonar (Art ) Medal (1960-73)Also made by a firm that familiar to some, Deschler und Sohn, M?nchen.
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 (edited) KingdomBuzkahshi Medal, 1335To the winner of buszkashi match (see the film "The Horsemen" or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzkashi if you wish more information) held in honour of visit of the Shah of Iran to Afghanistan in 1957. Edited November 2, 2006 by Ed_Haynes
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 (edited) OK, a momentary break from the medals of the kingdom.RepublicMedal for the Foundation of the Republic, 1973One of the few medals of the short-lived republic, July 1973 to April 1978. Edited November 2, 2006 by Ed_Haynes
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 But things were soon to change . . . People's Democratic RepublicOrder of the Red BannerEstablished 24 December 1980. Roughly equivalent to the Soviet award of the same name. The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.
Ed_Haynes Posted November 2, 2006 Author Posted November 2, 2006 (edited) People's Democratic RepublicOrder of GallantryAwarded for gallantry, roughly equivalent to the Soviet Order of the Red Star (as the design might suggest?).Established 29 October 1985. The award presumably became obsolete with the collapse of the PDRA in 1992.These came in two varieties, (1) 1985-87, with an open book as part of the central design (shown below), and (2) 1987-92, without the book (which I don't have -- yet).Numbered 1247 on reverse. Edited October 30, 2007 by Ed_Haynes
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