Megan

The Wayback Machine is (at least in part) your friend. http://web.archive.org/web/20070731084831/http://www.avejer.ejercito.mil.ar/Malvinas/medallas_y_condecoraciones.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20090206112451/http://avejer.ejercito.mil.ar/menupr.htm

Enamel 'ribbons' are quite popular with the Fire Service. One came around to do a fire survey of my house last year. He had a bar with Golden Jubille and Fire LS&GC - upside down! He was quite interested when I pointed this out and showed him the Diamond Jubilee medal (this was in March so he hadn't got one yet). The next time I saw him he pointed out that he had his ribbons the right way round now!

Fascinating stuff, folks, thank you for sharing.

Well done, Frank!

Lovely, Emmanuel. It's listed on my site, but this is the first specimen I have seen, thank you for sharing!

Nice link... some interesting material there!

West Midlands Police have been looking through their archives and have released LOADS of historic pictures. Some are featured here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-20717022 - and apparently they've put a lot more on Flickr.

I'm still looking for the beastie too!

Hello Audrey - I too would be interested in any information that you'd be willing to share... I am trying to develop the South Africa section of my website. Full acknowledgement given to all sources, of course.

The Order of George I was instituted on 16 January 1915 by King Constantine I, in memory of his father George I who was murdered in 1913. It consists of the regular 5 classes in civil and military divisions, plus an associated medal called George I's Memorial Medal. This medal comes in gold, silver and bronze - and it is one of these, probably the gold, that you have.

1845-1846 version only, at the moment. Obverse: Reverse:

That's amazing - and good to be able to display them 'back home' where they belong!

This is an amazingly informative and beautiful thread... real scholarship and wonderful images! Congratulations to all involved. I really must do something with the neglected Persia/Iran section of my site, but right now I am too overawed!

Beautiful, thank you for sharing!

Dear Jani - e-mail sent... Dear 922F - fascinating notes, thank you.

Magic, thank you for that!

I wonder if it is a Göde reproduction? This company produced (and I think still does) faithful uniface reproductions of German Imperial ODM (and I have seen a few other nation's orders as well). They're based as far as I can discover in Bavaria. Others I have seen have similar backs to the one shown here.

Is the actual medal different for civilian and military awards, or is it just that you get a ribbon bar or a lapel pin depending on which you are?

The last of the 'Grand Orders' is the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir (Velered kralja Dmitra Zvonimira). This was instituted on 1 April 1995 and is awarded to highly ranked state and religious officials, whether foreign or Croatian, for Exceptional contributions to the independence and integrity of the Republic of Croatia, relations between Croatian state and religious groups, and for exceptional acknowledgments in cultural and humanitarian work. The badge is silver in the shape of a cross, the arms of which are decorated with typically Croatian triple-braid ornamentation. In the centre there is a gold medallion depicting the Baska Tablet (which mentions the name of King Dmitar). Above is a small gold medallion showing the King's head in profile, this also forms the centrepiece of the star. Badge: Star:

Next is the Grand Order of King Peter Krešimir IV (Velered kralja Petra Krešimira IV). This was instituted: 20 June 1992 and reconstituted 1 April 1995, and is awarded to highly ranked state officials, foreign officials, and senior military officials. The badge is a stylised square, placed on one corner (so diamond-shape) and backed by crossed swords, hilt down. In the centre there is a white circular medallion showing King Peter Krešimir IV in gold, with a trifold gold twisted edge. Around this the square/diamond background has five-fold gold twists on a blue background. The star bears the same badge but without the swords. Badge: Star:

Thank you! Next in order of precedence is the Grand Order of Queen Jelena. Institued in 1995, it is awarded to soldiers for exceptional contribution to the development of war strategies and military doctrine, merit in the development of the Croatian Armed Forces and for particular success in leading and commanding formations. The badge is a crowned cross of an ornate and typically Croatian design, blue-enamelled and sprinkled with tiny gold crosses. This also appears in the centre of the star. Here is the badge: And the star:

Interesting - do you happen to know its ISBN? I feel a trip to the library coming on...

And this is the star: This has the same central medallion as the badge on it.

I've been looking at Croatia, who have developed an interesting 'take' on awards, with a whole bunch of single-class orders which all look quite similar but are awarded for different things. There are several main categories of order. First are the 'grand orders' which all consist of sash, sash badge and star. The sash in every case is a glorious thing: white with one blue edge and one red one, the edges bearing an ornate looping gold pattern (or a double gold/yellow stripe on the ribbon bar). The premier one of these is the Grand Order of King Tomislav. This was instituted on 20 June 1992, with a revision on 1 April 1995. It is awarded, according to the statutes, to those who have contributed to the improvement of the standing of Croatia internationally, development of international relations, etc... in effect, it is given to foreign Heads of State. Here is the badge: The badge is based around the letter H with a central circular gold medallion depicting a historical Croatian monarch sitting on a throne with the state arms above (I am still figuring all the symbology out, the only descriptions I've found are in Croatian so it's a slow process!)

Thank you so much, Paul and Owain. Without the kindness of the likes of you, my website would be a far duller place!