Sal

1- When dealing with things where there is no established market and less of any established market value, all bets are off. Neither sellers nor buyers have any clue.

2- Any item, of course, is "worth" only what a given fool is willing to pay for it on a specific day.

3- ECON 101: Supply and demand.

4- When merchants sell to members of an occupying army, prices will go to the maximum possible.

Right on Ed. That's exactly what it is right now. Ironically, this same guy with the Iraqi group (including the swords) is also the same guy that has all the medals for cheap.....funny thing is that they are printing your information off your site and using it to show prospective buyers of the medals what they are and what they were awarded for.....so you are also a known expert in Iraq too....well done

Tony

Thanks Chris.....good points, and it is clearly in full swing here. I can find the same Iraqi medals on ebay for 1/2 what one dealer here has them....but go to the next booth and he sells the same for 10 bucks a pop and they are real as well.....

This guy had some amazing items.....but since I am ignorant in the sword world, I couldn't even venture a swag at what the basic value of a sword would be...with no provenance other than the markings.

My guess was waaaay out of wack on the proce as well. I would guess 200-400 at the high end just for the fact it is linked to the regime and quasi current events

We'll see.....

Hi all....while I am not a collector of swords and edged weapons, I was offered a grouping here in Baghdad that contains 2 swords. both are well made and solidly constructed. I hae no idea when they were made. Both are marked with German maker marks. I did t write the names. One is marked with the Iraqi National Republic eagle and some script. The other is marked with a triangle atop an arab symbol....not sure what it is or what letter it is.

I am curious what, if any, value Iraqi swords would have in the parket and what the potential value is. They are part of larger group but the seller says he wants 1000 bucks for each....any thoughts are appreciated....I am lost in this realm of collecting but if I can get a legit price, I will make an offer to him.

Thanks for any help

Tony

Medal for the 14 Ramadan Revolution, 1963

Ed posted as part of the main body of the thread, but he pointed out something interesting to me about this one. This particular one is not Swiss made as many of the Iraqi awards were. It is unmarked but of good quality.....I believe an Iraqi made variation of the medal. It is pretty clear and crisp in the details but missing any maker marks. Thought it would be an interesting post as an example of a very good quality Iraqi made variation vice the later substandard made pieces under the embargo years. Thanks to Ed for validating this one for me.

The box

Picked this up the other day, don't know why the table medals form the kingdom intrigue me so much. Maybe the history and the road traveled tgo where we are now...in any event, they keep jumping out at me.

This is a commemorative medal for the opening of the New Baghdad Bridge in 1957. Not sure exactly where in the metropolitan area it is.....it's about 3 inches in diameter and with it's original fitted box.

The neat thing to me is the maker name on the bottom, Hugein, as well as the Iraqi store and address in Baghdad.

Any information is appreciated...thanks as always

Looking hard on the internet for an overview of Saddam's awards (curious if he might have any Soviet ones for instance... Order of Friendship for instance:)).

ANyway, if somebody already has a link / pic please post!

Hey Bob....I founf a wall clock here in Baghdad with a picture of Saddam in uniform wearing his awards. I could not see it well enough to them all. I will try to get the guy to let me take a photo of it instead of buying it.....although it might be neat as well. More to follow as it's Friday and they are not open today......

In the interim I found these pics on the internet....it's not the greatest but might be able to start building on it.

As I can see them from left to right as you look at the picture from Bender Publishing:

Wissam al-Rafidain, GC Military Division

Medal Bar:

Unknown Medal

Medal for Bravery 1963-1990

General Service Medal 1959

Medal for the palestine War 1948-49

Medal for Crushing the Northern Uprising

Medal for 14 Ramadan Revolution 1963??

Medal for 17 July Revolution 1968

Medal for Cooperation 1967-1973

Medal for Peace 1970

Army Golden Jubilee Medal (gold class) 1971

Medal for the 1973 War with Israel

Tony

Still working on the clock with the full length picture in uniform

From what I can get loosely translated....it is a commemorative medal of some sort celebrating the Ba'ath Party take over in 1968. Not sure what type criteria or who would be a recipient. Any additional info is of course appreciated

Tony

Shukraan Ed.....maku mushkela. I am standing by. If I can get my friend at the bazaar to transate it I will post it as well. But you never know if the story they are telling is true....they tell what they think or what they ehard, or whatever sounds sexy to sell something.

i appreciate your help in this.

Tony

Nice piece would be interesting to know if it is solid silver or not?

From what I can see with my mag glass....looks like it's marked "900" with the letters "IF" underneath. I have a King Faisal II coin as well with the same marking ("IF")

I need to have the reverse translated, might be the answer there

A Cute Arab Box - part 4

Republic of Yemen

Order of Duty

A military award, established by Resolution No. 1 of 2 January 1973.

(And, yes, just a bit "over the top".)

Hey Ed.....I just got an "Over the Top" as well yesterday. I had no idea what it was but it was just so big and loud I bought it. Syria 50th Anniversary of the Syrian Army in the case. This thing is very heavy as is the box (surprisingly solid). Just big and loud....he has another Friendship Medal in a nice Syrian case....but not big and loud enough.

reverse

I picked this up in Baghdad the other day. About 2 inches in diameter, fairly heavy silver coin or table medal. Very well struck, silver content marked on the reverse but hard for me to see with the glass I have.

I have seen these copied extensively but based on the weight and feel as well as detail and quality, I am fairly convinced it's the real thing.

Anyone seen this or knows what it is for or whom it might have been given to? What it might be commemorating or given for?

First one is the obverse

Thanks

Tony

Thanks gents for the input....certainly always appreciated

And the reverse......

Love the badge....except for the one repair it's in pretty good shape.....gotta get em when you can right?

Just got this in from Steve Brown, made in gold, but as you can see missing one handle to one sword.

It has a small enamel repair to the righit arm but generally when viewing is not noticeable.

What are your recommendations on replacing the handle vice leaving it as is? Will replacing it cause any possible damage to the piece or the integrity of the piece?

Last, recommendations for period cravat (even in a section) are appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Tony

Fabulous Micha.....one of my favorite orders. I agree wih Don...one of the most elegant in it's simplicity.

Not to hijack but feel the need to share what you are getting yourself into with Crown Orders.....Commander's Cross in gold, in it's house MM: N.

SPM....hey thanks. Yeah ya know....just as soon as we get dried out from that junk....it rains in the night JUST enough to make it a disaster the next morning......I am telling ya if I never see rain here again it wont be soon enough.....but I think we're in for a hot hot one this summer...(surprise).

I think you and Dan are on the right path. I took a closer look after his and your comments. It does look like 2 pins....the other areas that I thought appear like they were ground down, may just be finishing. Problem is that they do look like a broken pin as you describe as possible broken off set of swords.

I'll gin up some better pics of the badge and post them.....thanks for the insight

Tony

It looks good to me. I would think the holes you are wondering about is where the pins go hiolding on the centers. I had a 3rd class once and that was the case. I don't recall on the 4ths I have had.

Are there any maker marks?

Thanks Dan....I appreciate that. I never thought of that point about the centers. I cannot find any marks on it but I compared the eagle with the series of variations on Andreas' site and it looks like a 4th type Wagner.....again I am certainly not expert, but am happy to know it seems good. Thanks very much

T

Hey all.....I got this in the mail the other day....first off hoping it is legit....i think it is but the suspension looks oddly flat vice a ball.

Anyway, I have a question about the order in general with respect to swords. Is appears there are locations that look like there were swords through it but hae been removed and ground down. Two areas have that appearance and the other 2 areas look completely ground down and polished to an extent. Would that be an indication it is an illegitemate piece or is there a posisbility they were namufactured with a set up for swords in the event theyh were authorized....in other words, to save the time and expense.

Closer shot of the eagle

I will get some better pics of the areas in question but for now these are additional from the auction...I appreciate any insight.

Thanks

Tony

The top of the case. It's plastic but fairly decent quality considering. It has the small booklet inside expaining the issue of the coin, the gold, silver, and bronze types, and the gold and silver content of the various types. I'm not a coin or tabel medal type guy but this seemed too interesting to pass up.

Not military so please feel free to move it to a more appropriate place.

I grabbed this the other day, Commemorative Coin for the 30 July Revolution. These were available from the Central Bank in Baghdad as well as the Mosul Branch and Basra Branch. Made in silver, it's more weighty in hand than it appears. Any additional information you guys have I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Tony

Nice set, Sal. You are right about the ribbons, but, still, . . .

Thanks Ed.....I appreciate it. You know I was holding off and the Uncle always was asking me to buy it....I knew it was too much but after so many times going to see him, I figured what the heck. if nothing else its interesting. He's still sellling many good items but well above the value......but is a hard one to bargain with. Gotta catch him on a good day. I asked him what he's going to do when I buy all the medals? He just laughed....so I hold off on them because it allows me to go see him.......I get a kick out of him and his son trying to tell me what they are for. 80% of the time they are right...the other 20 they just are making something up....but they're creative at least....2 good guys and fun to haggle with.

Were miniatures prevelant at any point on the uniform? I don't recall seeing any in any of the pictures I have been able to look at nor have I seen any mounted for wear like British or US miniatures...

Picked this up today in Baghdad. A set of 10 miniatures in a nice case with the national emblem on the top. All but 3 of these are marked Huguenin. I know 3 have incorrect ribbons (the 3 middle ones) but all the others are correct as far as I can tell. I am not a mini collector but I thought this was a neat set of pretty well made minniatures....and the case was really the kicker.

Hi All,

Elsewhere on the forum Haynau asked the question " don't know why so few people collect italian decorations?"

Are there really so few around ? Let's find out ...

Here's one to start off with :

Commander Class of the Order of the Italian Crown (1868-1951)

[attachmentid=17814]

Hi Hendrik

I hae attached my crown as well. My question for you and the group is whether the age/date of a piece is indicated by the jewel-work and detail on the crown? I noticed yours is more detailed and jeweled than mine. Or is it simply a matter of a different manufacturer? Thanks a lot

Tony