Megan

Permit me a slight growl here... my father was a senior civil servant and received a knighthood. However, I join you all in applauding the award to Sir Tom Moore, well deserved. Once the story was picked up by the BBC just before Easter it caught everyone's attention and raised a massive amount for a good cause.

It's the Order of Omar Torrijos Herrera, instituted on 14 December 1982.

The best site covering Spanish ODM is Antonio Prieto Barrio's Condecarones. Here is the relevant page on the Order of Military Merit: https://www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medallas/texto/omm18751939.htm He only shows completely enamelled or totally 'naked' crosses, none with just the centre enamelled. However what both Barrio's work and that of Borna Borac (Barac, B. (2016) Reference Catalogue Orders, Medals and Decorations of the World: Part 1V Gold Book (P-Z). OBOL, Zagreb) suggest is that no cross, enamelled or not, had a plain reverse. For a cross of the period 1878-1931, which yours appears to be (Bourbon shield on the obverse), the reverse should show an entwined MM monogram. For a red-enamelled cross, this would be on a white roundel. A silver cross of the same period would have the same monogram on its reverse, no enamels. The ridges on the arms of your cross suggest that it may have 'escaped' from a jeweller before enamelling was complete; but its uniface construction indicates that it may have been a display copy rather than the real thing. Interesting piece. Hope this helps...

Like several of you have said, even if such an award were to be authorised, it would be a nightmare deciding who ought to receive it. What about delivery drivers? What about teachers ensuring that at least some modicum of education is delivered online to pupils (and child-minding the children of those who have to work)? What about those of us stretching technology to its limits to make sure that university students can progress or graduate? What about this army of volunteers who have stepped up to help support those who are staying home? Maybe - shock horror! - this is finally a place for the 'medals for purchase' merchants? That if you feel the need to commemorate what you did during the coronavirus scare, you may buy a suitable medal, perhaps with an array of clasps to indicate what you were doing!

There could be space found on my server if you want...

Thanks for sharing...

Great stuff, thanks for sharing Antonio.

Quite nice, although I'm not too sure about some of your colour choices or that heavy red lettering which makes it hard to read the quite detailed information about the various orders you display!

OK, Micke - let me know when you have decided what you would like to do. Do you have a competent 'webhead' amogst the membership?

You know me too well, Lukasz! The only charge is the domain name registration (at cost, we're happy to handle the renewals, though).

Hosting can be made available at no cost, if that would help. I own the server that my site, Antonio Barrios Condecoraciones and Lucasz Gaszewski's Ribbons site and his Polish Medal site live on, and there's room for another. Server runs Linux, Apache, MySql and PHP for the techies amogst us. If you have contacts within SFF, please ask them if they want to get in touch to discuss this.

The site owner passed away a while back. I'm thinking the domain name registration might have expired. Last archived in August 2019: https://web.archive.org/web/20190803154915/http://www.medalj.nu/

Ist one is the Luthuli Detachment Medal awarded to veterans of uMkhonto weSizwe's Luthuli Detachment, which fought in Rhodesia in the 1960s. (half red, half blue ribbon with black/green/yellow central stripe). Instituted in 2012. The third one is the Liberation Medal, also awarded to veterans of uMkhonto weSizewe, and instituted in 2012. Fourth is the Hector Pietersen Medal, again for uMkhonoto weSizewe veterans and instituted in 2012. The final 3 are the Military Veterans' Decoration in Platinum, awarded in 3 grades: Class 1 for Mandela and other founders of uMkhonto weSizewe in 1961, Class 2 for members of the high command structure 1961-1990, and Class 3 for members of regional structures 1961-1990. Cannot help with the rest, sorry.

Nice. Well spotted, Antonio.

You can buy the Medals Year Book in PDF format, if the postage charges are too high for where you live... it's 10 UKP. Here's the link: https://www.tokenpublishing.com/shop/product/8029/800

Thank you 'BalkanCollector', that would be most helpful.

Here is the Medal for Bravery (МЕДАЛ ЗА ХРАБРОСТ), the last of the awards instituted on 27 June 2002. It is awarded to members of the armed forces of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, the employees of the Interior Ministry and other people for personal courage and self-sacrifice in defence of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic, the protection of human lives or other noteworthy services. The medal is a stylised four-pointed star in gold-plated silver, with a diameter of 55mm. Behind the star are two swords in saltire, hilts downwards. The star is enamelled in red to give the impression of the Macedonian flag with a hollow white-enamelled circlet in the centre inscribed ЗА ХРАБРОСТ (FOR BRAVERY). The suspension is a stylised oak wreath bound in red ribbon. It was designed by Aleksandar Bajraktarov.

Next up, the Medal for Merit for Macedonia (Медал за заслуги за Македонијk). The Medal for Merit for Macedonia was also instituted on 27 June 2002 and is awarded to individuals and institutions for achievements that contribute to significant development and promotion of Macedonia in all areas of life and work, and to develop friendly relations between Macedonia and other countries, international bodies, organizations or associations. It was designed by Milkica Stefanovska. The medal is basically circular with a diameter of 40mm. It is made of bronze with 24 carat gold plating. To the left there is a stylised sprig of oak leaves, which extends beyond the edge of the circular medal disk, and on the right there is a stylised ear of wheat. In the centre there is a map of Macedonia with the inscription Република Македонија (REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA).

Continuing, here is the Order of Military Merit (Орден за воени заслуги) which was also instituted on 27 June 2002, this order is awarded for exceptional merit in national defence and security to individuals or institutions. It may also be awarded to police officers and foreigners for services promoting the defence of the Republic, or in strengthening international collaboration between armed forces or police services. Worn on a neck ribbon – white with yellow-edged white edges – the badge takes the form of an eight-pointed gilded silver star, 66mm in diameter, with red-enamelled arms converging on a disk of 12mm diameter with the motto за татковината (FOR THE MOTHERLAND) around a representation of the Macedonian flag. A wreath of silver oak leaves is wound around the arms of the star, and the suspension is comprised of crossed silver swords and gilded oak leaves. The badge was designed by Darko Fidanoski. Thank you Antonio and Emmanuel for your contributions to this thread. I found the Avers catalogue and the regulations Antonio mentioned, although I'm struggling to translate them! There's also an active Macedonian Heraldry Society, who have written in their journal about the Orders I've presented above (they also talk about heraldry and badges, and mercifully publish bilingually in Macedonian and English!). Emmanuel, the badge you show us is interesting as it appears to be all one colour whereas regulations and official pictures suggest that the Order 8th September is silver and gold plate. There are a couple of medals to come... then I need to start figuring out the other stuff in the regulations, with some military awards which appear to be non-wearable plaques with ribbons to wear in uniform, and long service awards. Does anyone here speak Macedonian?

Established on 8 September 1991, with a name that's been disputed from the outset by Greece, who understandibly would prefer that there is no confusion between the Republic and their own region called Macedonia, it was originally called the Republic of Macedonia (Former Republic of Yugoslavia), but in January 2019, a compromise title of Republic of North Macedonia was agreed with the Greek parliament (plenty of protests, however, by those who objected to the use of the name Macedonia at all...). But we won't go into that: let's look at some of their orders, decorations and medals instead. Order of the Republic of Macedonia Instituted in 2002, this is the highest state decoration of the Republic of North Macedonia. It is awarded for outstanding services in promoting the sovereignty of Macedonia, developing international relations or other services to the nation. It is a single-class order, consisting of a collar with a badge and a star. The ribbon (worn when ribbons alone are worn) is red with narrow edge stripes. The collar of the order consists of alternate links of the Macedonian flag and a decorative piece based on a mediaeval manuscript. The badge is suspended from a stylised Gordian knot, and is circular, 57mm in diameter. There is a ruby in the centre and a decoration of floral elements and stylised palm trees, with brilliants around the edge. The star of the order has rays of stylised tobacco leaves with a ruby at the end of each ray. There is also a ruby in the centre, surrounded by floral elements and stylised palm trees, and a circle of brilliants (this central part is the same as the badge of the order). Including the rays, the diameter of the star is 91mm. Order of 8th September This order, the second-highest award of the Republic of North Macedonia, was instituted in 2002. It is awarded for exceptional merit in developing relations with other nations, or services to security or defence of the nation. The name of the order is because the republic was founded on 8th September 1991. The badge is an 8-pointed silver star with a diameter of 81mm. In the centre is a gold-plated map of the country with the date 8 September 1991, all surrounded by a gold-plated wreath. The ribbon, worn when ribbons only are worn, is red with yellow-edged white edges. Order of Illlinden 1903 This order is named in honor of the Ilinden Uprising that took place in 1903. Instituted in 2002, it is awarded for merit in the struggle for the national and social liberation, for outstanding contribution to the national legal and social development and strengthening the community relations in the country. The badge of the order is based on a redesign of the Ilinden memorial by Kostadin Tančev-Dinka and Vladimir Borojevik. It consists of a four-pointed silver star, 71mm in diameter. In the centre, on a disk of gold-plated rays, the Ilinden memorial is depicted in silver with Илинден 1903 below, all surrounded by a gold-plated wreath. The ribbon, worn when ribbons only are worn, is red with a yellow central stripe and yellow-edged white edges. Order of Merit of the Republic of Macedonia Instituted in 2002, this order is awarded for contributions to the political, social and cultural life of the country. It is Macedonia's fourth-highest order. The badge of the order is an eight-pointed rayed silver star, 65mm in diameter. There is a small ruby on each arm of the star. In the centre there is a plain gold-plated 8-pointed star with a relief representation of the standard of Macedonia. The ribbon, for when ribbons only are worn, is ed with a white central stripe and yellow-edged white edges That's all for now, but there will be more to follow!

You might find Lukasz Gaszewski's excellent rackbuilder of assistance: https://medals.pl/us/ The OMSA images collection has separate medal listings for each of the US services as well.

As one of Antti's proofreaders, all I am going to say is that it's looking good!

What an ideal posting for you Antonio :)

Welcome back!!!!

Fairly old and with mostly lineart of the medals discussed: Monick, S. (1988) South African Military Awards 1912-1987, South African National Museum of Military History. The odd copy can be aqcuired via Amazon and other online used book sellers. You can find quite a few links from https://www.medals.org.uk/south-africa/south-africa-links.htm.. and look at the medal list itself there, of course.