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I attach image of reverse of Bravery Star, Owain.

Gentlemen, Another group of Iraqi medals mounted and with a name : Iraq Bravery Star 2nd Type named to "Mulazim Thani (2nd.Lt., Habeeb Dhahir, 2nd Battalion".Faisal II Police Distinguished Service MedalActive Service MedalFaisal II Police Long Service MedalFaisal II Coronation Medal As there are no WW2 medals nor a Rafidain Order I would suggest a career commencing after WW2 and possibly coming to an end with the 1958 Revolution. The uniform ribbon bar is in a different order. Regards. Owain

Thanks Lukasz for the information - any idea what a good price would be? It isn't silver thus no bullion value - sometimes here in Saudi / Yemen / Oman I have been sold medals by weight! Regards, Owain

Many thanks Megan. Has anyone any idea as to the value of such a set?

Will, Yes, lots of potential for research and I hope to get a pciture of Dr. Dixon Firth in due course - possibly some supporting documentation as well, but not guaranteed. Lorenzo, You are correct - a UK issue miniature Faisal Coronation. In the past I have seen one similar full size group to the British Butler at the Iraqi Embassy - I think it consisted of Royal Victorian Medal or British Empire Medal, a couple of WW2 medals, the Rafidain Medal and Faisal Coronation Medal - I was broke at the time and thus couldn't afford to bid!. I now have 3 full size UK manufactured coronation medasl - out of 5,000 = 0.06%! I am sorry I cannot post any further images as the medals are in UK and I am in Riyadh - I will actually get to hold them when I next visit UK in August / September. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, I attach the image of a nice Rafidain group, plus miniatures which I have recently purchased, awarded to Dr. Dixon Firth, sometime Medical Officer with the Royal Iraqi Household after the the Second World War: UK Defence Medal 1939-45UK War Medal 1939-45Iraq Order of the Rafidain 5th Class Civil ( with blutack affixing ribbon crown to suspension!)Iraq Active Service MedalIraq Faisal Coronation Medal The table medal is one of a series issued during the early years of King Faisal II reign commemorating various civil works. Regards, Owain

I attach an image of Type 1. I think this example may have been made by either Bertoni (Italy), IKOM, (Zagreb) or Fattorini (UK). Regards, Owain

Chris, I suspect that when Gaddafi renamed the Republic a Jamahariya and changed the flag from red, white, black to plain green the award kept a white central stripe to allow the script to be read more easily. As you say not the most attractive of awards - very functional but I suspect a relatively scare piece - I have not seen this particular Type 2 for sale elsewhere. Regards, Owain

Two more images.

Gentlemen, Some success in the Riyadh souk the Libyan Order of Good Work. A nice cased 2nd Type. Type 1 Republic of Libya - with red, black white centre Type 2 Jamahariya of Libya - with green, white green centre No makers marks on this piece but possibly by the Italian manufacturers Bertoni. The central inscription is a quotation for the Koran Chapter 5, Verse 10, "Unto him (God) ascend all good words, and the righteous deed does he exalt.To Him mount up (all) Words of Purity; is He Who exalts each Deed of Righteousness" This award is seen on some of the photographs on Gadaffi when in uniform. Kind regards, Owain

Gentlemen, The Arab world is my focus and hence I request the more knowledgeable amongst you for any identification on this cased award on sale in the souk here in Riyadh. All in excellent condition including the presentation case - breast stat, neck badge with neck ribbon..It is an individually hand crafted set in silver with gold embellishments and most attractive. Can anyone confirm the identification and relative scarceness of such a set? Any ideas? The vendor had various other Egyptian awards some of which I purchased and I am led to believe he bought a job lot of awards in Cairo some 10 or 15 years ago. No price given as yet but if I could get a good deal I may be tempted if only out of curiosity and it really is a most attractive handcrafted set . Kind regards and thanks, Owain

Gentlemen, The Arab world is my focus and hence I request the more knowledgeable amongst you for any identification on this cased award on sale in the souk here in Riyadh. All in good condition includng the presentation case - breast stat, similar neck badge with embellished suspension and neck ribbon. The only anomaly appears to be the ribbon brooch which does not match the neck ribbon. Any ideas? The vendor had various other Egyptian awards some of which I purchased and I am led to believe he bought a job lot of awards in Cairo some 10 or 15 years ago. I am aware that the North Koreans were involved in the establishment of the Military Musuem in Cairo and thus may have had other involvement with the Egyptian military hence this award. No price given as yet but if I could get a good deal I may be tempted if only out of curiosity . Kind regards and thanks, Owain

Just off to the airport........ The circular mark - too indistinct for me to recognise an image - is suggestive to me of European manufacture - not British - possibly French - is it a "swan" - the Frech export mark? Or could it possibly of eastern European manufacture? Owain

Thanks - signing out now, I'll be back later. Owain

Great image of the reverse and it would appear to have a mark on the pin but unclear. I would surmise that following the overthrow of Sallal in 1967 the Egyptian sponsored awards of Saba, Marib and medals of Bravery and Liberation became obslote atnd the ruling Republican Council instituted a new award of Marib to replace the previous series and thereby make a break with the Sallall (Nasser supported) regime. Once the civil war was over, the early 1970 series was possibly an attempt to have a unifying series of awards and the second type you illustrate became obsolete.

Great information, as this implies / infers/ proves that there are three distinct issues of the Order of Marib - the GMIC proves its worth yet again. This is the first documentary evidence I have of the award - really excellent news. It would appear to be a very short lived award. Any idea who made it?

Nice picture of Pavlovich - with star, thus dating the issuance to 1967-9 - between the end of the Civil War and the 1971/2 review of the YAR honours sytem - any award certificate?

Good morning from Dubai, An interesting image but not the Order of Marib - when I get back to Riyadh on Monday I'll post a Marib image - there are two versions - the 1964-67 Bichay manufactured award for the Sallal regime ad the 1971 or 1972 version manufactured by Skinner of London. The image you show I have seen a similar black and white version with sash but with a central lions head claiming to be Yemeni, but in the last 20 years with numerous visits to Sana'a and Aden, I have yet to be able to firmly identify this award. From the picture the only part I could argue is symbolic of the Yemen Arab Republic is the 5 pointed green star which is in the centre of the YAR flag. Do you have an image of the reverse or any provenance for this star? Kind regards, Owain

James, Thanks for your post - most enlightening - I had assumed, wrongly, that one was merely a modified reestablishment of the other. However your comments concerning the use of a national symbol ring true. Many thanks, Owain

Excellent introduction Emannuel - many thanks. The General Service Medal in miniature often has the clasp "Congo" but I have yet t see this in full size. I have also yet to see it as part of a British group of medals. The Independence Medal is one of the scarcer ones from the UK series of such awards and I paid some GBP230 for one at auction some years ago. Regards, Owain

Yes, I had it for a while - a 2nd class military division, and whilst it pained me to hand it back, there was no way to repair or replace the missing central parts - but at least In had the good sense to take pictures.

I don't have one of these - bah! I was offered one some eight years ago in its case, but it was so badly damaged I could not justify purchasing a lump of scrap! One day.......... Owain

Excellent Emmanuel - all good stuff. Owain

Yes, as you note they are two different orders - the former is a six sided award whilst the latter is a multirayed star.

Lorenzo , This is the Order of the Renaissance of the Kingdom of the Hijaz - ruled by Faisal's father Hussain Bin Ali and then his brother Ali. After the Hijaz was taken over by Abdul Aziiz Al Saud (later king of Saudi Arabia) this order and the Hijazi Order of Independence became Transjordanian and latterly Jordanian awards under King Abullah - also a brother of Faisal. Regards, Owain