Megan

The last version of this award is also distinctive in having the 'stipple' effect on the reverse, rather than the completely plain one of earlier types.

Great story, Enzo, and a great reminder that duty, honour, and courage are displayed on both sides of a conflict (my father served in the British army in Italy...)

The latest issue of JOMSA crawled through my letterbox this morning with a fascinating article on Nigerian medals in it. Wilschut, E. (2020) The Biafran Conflict and its Origins Described Through Medals. Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America 71(5):3-12. It explains quite a lot about early Nigerian medals in general and answers some of the questions posed in this thread. (Note that all JOMSAs are now digitised as well as printed, and you can get a digital-only subscription for $19.95 - a good investment as the journal is a real treasure-trove.)

Who awarded this?

Colours and the design of the eagle would suggest German, but the cross isn't shaped like any German - or Austrian - award I know...

So sorry to hear that poor Elie was caught up in this horrific incident, good news at least that both he and his family are safe.

Nice... it so happens that I decided to turn my eye to the DDR, and already have found a large number of images to add to my site. Fighting a bit with a correct order of precedence, though. Does anyone have a definitive one?

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).