oamotme

Gentlemen,

In today's Arab News a brief entry:

"Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Comopany, was rcently honored by Eritrea President Isaias Afewerki with the country's highest state medal. He was accorded Presidential Coat of Arms of the State of Eritrea, which is a first class decoration, on his visit to Asmara on the invitation of Afewerki."

The accompanying photograoph shows Waleed recieving a camel table piece!

The son of a friend of mine has recently completed a tour of duty as the British Ambassador in Eritrea and during his tour was unable to find any information concerning Eritrean awards and I think reasonably concluded that there were no official awards.

On looking at the Eritrean constitution, adopted July 1996, it states under Article 42, Powers and Duties of ther President, Section 16 "Confer honours and medals on citizens, residents and friends of Eritrea in consultation with relevant persons and institutions".

Thus there is an intention to have awards - perhaps these awards have yet to be instituted.

Waleed is known for his self promotion and has collected awards from all over the world in recognition of his wealth and potential investment in countries. Not so long ago he had a full page advertisement in the Arab News trumpeting his award of the Legion of Honour from France and the award illustrated was back to front! It may well be that the Eritrean award was a gift which has been translated into an award - who knows?

The only other reference I have been able to find concerning Eritrean awards concerns what appears to be academic achievement awards - see article below.

Kind regards,

Owain

News & Articles An award that motivates

By Efrem Habtetsion Jul 24, 2007, 7:00am

The Zagre and Sawa awards were given to students who scored full grades in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination, and to Eritrean students who have successfully completed their studies abroad respectively, last Saturday, July 21, here in Asmara.

This year, 17 students, of which three females, who attended 12th grade in Warsay-Yikealo Secondary School in Sawa and who scored 4.0 GDP in the matriculation received a laptop computer and a medal from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Osman Saleh. The winners of the award participated in the 19th round of the national service.

According to the organizer of the award, the laptop computers were provided by His Excellency, President Isaias Afewerki.

During the occasion, 17 Eritrean students from the Diaspora received the Sawa prize, a medal, from the Minister of Education Mr. Semere Rusom. The Sawa prize is given to Eritrean students who have successfully completed their secondary studies abroad.

The Chairman of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students, Mr. Sultan Seid stated that the main objective of the Union is to train a versatile, responsible and dedicated youth. ?And so as to train a youth with such values, the Union has to focus on investing in education,? he said. The Chairman also underlined that Eritrean youths and students who have completed their education in the Diaspora should augment their contribution in the national development endeavors.

The Zagre and Sawa awards were given at the presence of ministers, PFDJ officials, parents and invited guests. The awarding ceremony featured different entertainment activities by the NUEYS Wari Children?s Cultural Group and singer Wedi Tkabo. The Zagre award started in 1998, with a medal and a 4,000 Nakfa cash prize. However, beginning last year, the award has been a laptop computer and a medal.

? Copyright 2001 - 2003 Shaebia.org

Gentlemen,

I am currently researching the awards of Imam Shamil of Chechenya & Daghestan. The illustrated award is from a Thies catalogue of 2007 and purports to be a Shamil award converted into an early Soviet award. It is possibly a Shamil award but whilst of niello silver, the piece bears no inscription - which is traditional for such awards - and bears a central cast lions head, which, whilst emblematic of bravery, both lion's head and design work are of a high detailed standard that is not evident in the other examples of Shamil awards. The crossed swords, raised logo and red enamel star, bearing a hammer and plough are of different and later manufacture. The Russian inscription translates as "For Honour Service" - but I am convinced this is not correct. The reverse has three loops for wearing. Any ideas?

Wuith thanks,

Owain Raw-Rees.

Lorenzo,

Perhaps at a stretch $100 but at $900 you are being viewed as an "economic opportunity" - sometimes it is good to say no.

Good luck,

Owain

Unless it was going for less than $50 I wouldn't bother.

Owain

Whilst it appears to be an Iraqi crown if it is an Academy award it would be specific to the academy and not a state award - probably for academic or sports achievement.

Regards,

Owain

The Arabic is unclear - possibly a sports medal?

Owain

Thanks for this input - such chests of ribbons seem to tbe medallic equivalents of crosswords!

Would he have reecieved an award from the Shah - I would not have thought them to be obvious bedfellows?

I will at the next opportunity trawl some of my old catalogues to see if there are any helpful illustrations.

What about 9.3? For whatever reason it feels, at least to me, as non-African....

Rwegards,

Owain

Dear 992F,

Many thanks - I agree with the identifcation of Ethiopia Order of Sheba and I will amend my initial post. I will also relace the Liberia, row 5.3 with Unknown. Libya does have the Order of the Great Victor (Fatah Adheem) and could double up with Row 8.3 Senegal Order of the Lion. With regard to red with orange edges Rows 5.3 and 9.4 are these possible duplications? Perhaps Ivory Coast is 5.3 and the 9t row is all non-African as the Nile Order should have narrow blue edge stripesit

Row 7.1 could be an Egyptian Military Duty Medal?

Regards,

Owain

Dear Ilja,

The Arabic would be better translated as "Commemoration of Liberation of Sinai" which would imply, at least outwardly, that the Egyptian military were active in this liberation!

I note the novel and previously unseen method of suspension

Owain

Ed,

Thanks for this. I am fairly certain that my identification of the Sudan ribbons with the exception of the plain ribbon on row 3. With regard to the rest of the ribbons again I am fairly confident of the identity of the multi-coloured ribbons but would be hesitant of 100% accuracy on the plain ribbons as a number of options may be available.

Regards,

Owain

Gentlemen,

Although my focus is usually on Arab awards this picture of Nimery ( President 1969-1985) has him sporting a chestfull of ribbons - almost half are from Sudan and the rest I believe are primarily from Africa. Any suggestions or corrections?

Kind regards,

Owain

Sudan_Numeiri_Portrait_B.bmp

Dear Vorbeste,

I strongly suspect that what you have is an unfinished factory piece and not a junior grade of the order.

Medals of the PDRY were manufactured as follows:

High Orders - State Mint Moscow or Leningrad (Breast Badges - Orders of Revolution, of Independence, of Bravery, of 22 June, of Friendship; War of Liberation Medal)

Internal Security Awards - State Mint in East Berlin (Order of Bravery; Service and Anniversary Medals)

All other - Budapest (Neck badges Orders of Earth and 22 June; Hero of Yemen Star, Orders of Devotion, of War Wounded, Science; Medals of Nationalisation, of Combat Proficiency, of Military Service, Army Day and Independence Anniversaries; Police Service and Anniversary Medals)

There are also a number of semi-official Governate, militia, labour, youth, literacy, education and sports medals/badges which may be of eastern European or even Chinese manufacture. One Governate medal may even be of British manufacture!

Finally the medal indicated being for fighting against Sultan Qaboos of Oman in fact a commemorative medal issued by the National Democratic Front of North Yemen. Founded in 1976 and advocating the unity of Yemen it was based in Aden. In 1979, with the support of the P.D.R.Y., it fought limited actions in the south of the Yemen Arab Republic. The obverse is a clenched fist rising out of the outline of a united Yemen and surrounded by the inscription, ?National Democratic Front, The Yemen Arab Republic.? The reverse bears a circular outline of the Yemen Arab Republic flag, surrounded by the inscription, ?Primacy for the Nation, Democracy for the People, Unity for Yemen?

Kind regards,

Owain

Gentlemen,

I have recently acquired an example of this silver campaign service medal :

Obverse & Reverse: "Al Saeed Hamed Bin Thwaini Sultan Zanzibar 1313" (Corr. to 24 June 1896 - 11 June 1896)

with clasp "Pumwan" bearing the stamped /die punched namimg:

678.SURUR FERAJI

From my limited experience of this medal I have not seen another named example. Any ideas / suggestions? Is SURUR a name or rank?

Regards & thanks,

Owain Raw-Rees (OAMOTME)

Yes, Miltary Service Medal Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen - now obsolete since unification in 1990.

Owain.

Bolgarin,

Many thanks - you have saved me from the enthusiasm of being a collector - yes this is it 1st Class Civil enamel both sides with case circa 1960. I will try and get an image.

Owain

Dear Bolgarin,

No document and the price is for this piece alone. All other items - various orders are for sale separately - some damaged. It will not be possible to get an image but the piece is in good condition.

Regards,

Owain.

Gentlmen,

This is not my usual scope of interest but I have been offered for sale here in Riyadh a 1st Class Civil - a quality white enameled piece (both sides) in its red box. From viewing this string of correspondence I suspect this is from the early/mid-1960s awarded to a Saudi diplomat - indeed some of the Arabic awards also for sale indicate this period. It is an attractive piece hence my interest - the price asked is SR2,400 or $640 - not cheap enough for me to go for it without consideration. I probably could negotiate a bit off for cash but is this a fair price? Venturing outside ones own field - Arabian awards - is always a wary exercise. Any comments would be appreciated.

Many thanks,

Owain (OAMOTME - Orders and Medals of the Middle East)

Lorenzo,

Superb - what workmanship! Now where is this piece? It is very similar indeed to the illustrations you posted last year and I would suggest, that in the absence of any argument to the contrary, that this is the Order of the Revolution. The inscription below the eagle is "Republic of Iraq". It appears that the manufacturer of this piece is Patek Phillipe of Geneva - normally known for watches - and as there is no suspension loop or brooch pin shown in this photograph the piece shown may be that of a proof specimen.

When illustrations like this appear GMIC scales the heights.

Happy new year,

Owain

Kim,

Thanks for the link to the Ayat al Kursi - this sometimes apperar on the reverse of some Arab traditional jewellery pieces - usually Omani or Yemeni.

Chris,

Can you provide a better image of the obverse of the medal - I suspect from the religious text on the reverse that this piece is some form of religious token or medallion.

Regards,

Owain

My own view is that this is not a fake but an example of a locally manufactured piece (cast copy?) from the period in question - I have a similar one but slightly smaller purchased many years ago. The naming would also imply a period piece - I cannot see any reason to fake such an obscure item - indeed I have yet to see any fakes of this medal . All in all an interesting piece and to my mind worthy of any collection of this period. With regard to the Seigal issue - the name is on relief on the reverse of the suspension bar. If you require more details on this series of awards I would refere you to my recent article in OMRS.

Kind regards,

Owain

Not very exciting - adressed to the General Inspector of the American Embassy with regard io a small parcel received and requesting appropriate action. Signed by Dr. Tarek Najm Abdullah Manager of the Office of the Presidency of Ministers. Dated, I think 2 may 2007.

Not a mention of amedal in sight.......nice headed paper though.

Owain

Possibly some form of civil recognition from Damascus - the centre reads "City of Damascus" and the left reads, I think, "Municipality" - I cannot read the right hand inscription. Looks like a fairly well made piece - is it a pin back badge?

Owain

Er....looks like an Ahmed to me but a clear image would help to confirm.

Owain.

P.S. As indicated before "Nichan" is Order thus it should be more properly referred to as the "Order of Glory"

Ed et al.

My "mule" came out of Turkey and a fellow collector purchased a couple of mules in Amman some two years ago. I don't think that there are many about - indeed the collectors market for legitimate Arab awards is small enough - although prices are going up - I look forward to seeing the UBS Gustav Tammann auction results from yesterday and the day before. I can understand imperial Greman and Russian fakes but suspect that these "mules" are miscellaneous spares.

Owain

Ed,

I disagree - it is not the Order of Merit as illustrated in the Arab Republic of Egypt protocol book - this backing star has more acute points than the official order, there is no uppermost falcon or hawk device, and the central inscription should be "Al Istahqaq" (Merit) not "Al Jumhouriya" (Republic). I do though whole heartedly agree with your comments concerning the lack of research done by dealers - however this does sometimes, not often, present collectors with golden opportunities!

Kind regards,

Owain