Spanish Civil War Campaign Medal (1936-39)

[Scott]

I got involved in a thread on this medal over on WAF this week attempting to photo-catalog the different variants of the medal. It was suggested that I present the info here as well.

These medals are relatively common and can be found in multiples on nearly every dealer site, auction, and show table; most often they're in mint condition with the original box and tissue. The medal was manufactured by Indrustrias Egana in Spain from 1938 through (by some estimates) the late 1970s. At first glance, they all look the same; however there are subtle differences, mostly centering on the maker marks (or lack of them). My aim was to attemt to figure out which medals might be linked to pre-May 1945 manufacture. To do that I would try to link specific medal variants found on medal bars to manufacture prior to May 1945. Overall, my quest turned out to be an exercise in futility since there are probably more than a dozen variants, and nearly every variant can be found on a given medal bar.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I'll present my 'findings' here as I did on WAF, and perhaps some shred of useful information can be gleaned from it. Some of the pictures are a little dark, so you may need to turn up the brightness on your monitor a bit to see the details discussed. If I've used a picture of your medal and you object to it, please let me know, and I will remove it and find a substitute picture.

First up are two medals with identical 'Egana' markings in the same spot on the front (look for the red circles/white dots), but they are from two different dies. The one on the left has the distinctive shape at the top on both sides (green circles/white dots) while the one on the right does not. There are other minor die strike differences as well if you study them closely. Neither is maker-marked on the reverse.

Edited April 21, 2007 by Scott

[Scott]

Next are three more medals that are maker-marked on the front only. The left and center medals are very similar, but the 'Egana' marks are in slightly different locations (left, directly under the tail; center, slightly right of the tail), and the ammount of 'non-wreath area' at the top on each is different. There are other minor detail differences as well. The medal on the right has the 'Egana' mark laid-out almost horizontally under the tail.

[Scott]

Here are a couple of unmarked examples. The one on the left has the distinctive shape at the top while the one on the right does not.

Edited April 22, 2007 by Scott

[Scott]

Here's where things get a bit complicated... The next photos represent a series of up to eight variants with maker-marks on both sides. On the front, "A.M" can be found either above the upper lion paw or between the toes of the lower paw. On the reverse, the 'Indrustrias Egana' mark is either placed near-virtically along the shield, or along the lower edge near the helmet. In addition, some or all of these variants may - or may not - have another "A.M." mark on the reverse under the the eagle's wing tip.

This is where my 'research' ends. It would be great if members would check their medals, and post pictures of any not presented here, front and back. That way we can continue to marvel at the seeming over-abundance of dies Egana used to produce this medal

Thanks for looking.

Scott

Edited April 21, 2007 by Scott

[Dolfek]

Hi Scott,

Great job you?re doing here too. I?m glad the pictures are useful. The "white dots"; it took me a while to do it.

I hope one day will find out why there are so many different variants.

Regards,

Adolph.

[Scott]

Adolph, thanks again for your help with this. Your photos and keen eye for detail were invaluable.

Kind regards.

Scott

[Scott]

I found this one today while surfing the web - it's only marked on the reverse near the shield...

Scott

Edited April 22, 2007 by Scott

[Jacques]

Thanks Scott to have opened this thread. I will try to find few pics from my medals.

jacques

[Antonio Prieto]

Type / Obverse / Reverse

1 / Ballon+EGA?A vertical / Ballon no marks

2 / EGA?A vertical / No marks

3 / AM under the neck del dragoon / INDUSTRIAS EGA?A below the helmet

4a / AM under the claw del dragoon / INDUSTRIAS EGA?A around the shield

4b / AM under the claw del dragoon / INDUSTRIAS EGA?A around the shield + AM under the end of eagle wing

4c / AM under the claw del dragoon / INDUSTRIAS EGA?A around the shield + AM under the helmet

4d / AM under the claw del dragoon / INDUSTRIAS EGA?A under the helmet. AM

around the shield

4e / AM under the claw del dragoon / No marks

5 / No marks / INDUSTRIAS EGA?A

6 / EGA?A horizontal together to the tail del dragoon / No marks

7 / Lezos or Lizos horizontal together to the tail del dragoon / No marks

8 / No marks / No marks

Any correction, update and also good images of the medaillons are very welcome, specially for types 3, 4a, 4b, 5 and 8

More informations about the german firms are also welcome (Steinhauer & Luck, Schickle y Paul Meybauer) I believe

[Scott]

Yes - in addition to the Spanish series of medals showing up in the period catalogs of S&L, Schickle, Deumer, etc., it looks like they may have been made for Spain in Italy as well. No wonder there are so many variants!

Scott

[Ed_Haynes]

A nice start to a typology. Thanks!!

[Scott]

Antonio - can you post some clear photos of your #7 marked Lezos or Lizos?

Thanks.

Scott

[Antonio Prieto]

I have only the images of the another forum just posted by Rafaello Carola in http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...highlight=spain

[Antonio Prieto]

The reverse

[Scott]

Actually, that looks like the standard "Egana" mark ...?

Scott

[IrishGunner]

Received this one as a present from my kids this past Christmas; we took a family trip to Barcelona in Feb 2008 and that is where they bought it - at a flea market.

After reading this thread, I've identified it as Antonio's Type 4b / obverse = AM under the dragon claw / reverse = INDUSTRIAS EGA?A around the shield + AM under the end of eagle wing. I'll post images, but my photography isn't the best.

Always learning, this thread also helped me identify this as a non-combatant's ribbon with green stripes (thanks to Antonio's website); now I have to find the black stripe combatant version.

Edited February 3, 2009 by IrishGunner

[IrishGunner]

Type 4b / obverse = AM under the dragon claw / reverse = INDUSTRIAS EGA?A around the shield + AM under the end of eagle wing.

Obverse:

[IrishGunner]

Type 4b / obverse = AM under the dragon claw / reverse = INDUSTRIAS EGA?A around the shield + AM under the end of eagle wing.

Reverse:

[Ulsterman]

A very interesting and useful thread. What types do we see/have on medal bars out there?

Personally, (sadly) I don't have any Spanish awards bars.

[IrishGunner]

I am also thinking that the initials "AM" are actually initials of the medal's designer rather than a makersmark - which really would be Egana.

Not sure what that means to the whole varient story - just thinking out loud. :rolleyes:

[Scott]

... What types do we see/have on medal bars out there?

Just about every variant can be found on period medal bars, which is why I stopped looking - in detail anyway. Still a good looking award (IMO) with great symbolism. I just realized how the four golden swords within the golden wreath favors the Spanish Cruz Laureada de San Fernando, one of the highest awards for bravery (probably just a curious coincidence).