heusy68

The Medal of Academic Merit - Estrella Náutica Mérito Académico. With suspender bar : DISCIPLINE. Medal is in good quality bronzed metal, lightly gilded. I asked why the motto was reading " Nautic Star " , but I got no reply to this. But at least, it is what it is. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Here we have the Cruz de Intelligencia, that seems to exist in 2 Classes. I had them in hands, workmanship quality is good, but it's not gold, it's not silver. I cannot resist to "try to compare" it to one of the CIA award, the Intelligence Star. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, I will show today, some medals, that are not parts of my collection, but that I had the occasion to see, and more, to be allow to photograph them, when I was doing a travel to Guatemala in January 2018. They are the medal from the DIGICI ( Direccion General de la Intelligencia Civil ), actually it's a separate office (not exactly police....), that are in charge of fighting the narcotrafic, the sides activities connected to it, the money laundering, and corruption ). And yes, this service has its own medal, and you gonna see them. Usually I know few travellers takes 2 to 3, to 4, or more extra days to chase medals, or medals information when they are very far from home, but that is something I always do. Meeting people, spoke to them is as interesting, as getting medal, because you then got their stories, and it helps you to understand more, this vast very vast field that phaleristic is. Regards to all. Emmanuel

I know, there is many of you, that would be interested to see these photo. They are the photo from eBay, when I bought the GSM in June 2015. You can see the Presentation Case of Issue for the medal is relatively large, if you compare it to the size of the medal. And the medal is presentedin the case, on it's smaller length. There is no manufacturer name inside the case, even after having removing the black velvet that hold the medal...... Regards to all. Emmanuel

Here are 2 photo of Sir Colonel Trevor A. Thomas who is now retired, but for 28 Years was the Chief of Staff of the Antigua & Barbuda Defense Force ( ABDF ).. On the first photo he's wearing an MBE ( Military Division ), the MSM of Antigua & Barbuda, the GSM of Antigua & Barbuda (with a bar), and the Regional Security System Medal (with a bar). On the 2nd photo, he is wearing the ribbon of a CMG, which was probably awarded to him after 2007. Best regards to all. Emmanuel

Here you can see a photo of Lieut Col Edwards Croft from ABDF, taken in 2007. He is wearing (from left to right): MSM, GSM (with bar), Regional Security System Medal (with an unidentified bar), 25th Anniversary of Independence Medal.

Acting Police Commissioner Atlee Patrick Rodney from Royal Police Force Antigua & Barbuda was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 2019, and it's gonna be on the Queen's 2020 New Year's Honors List. Mr Rodney enlisted the police in January 1982, and thus has by 2020 achieved 38 Years of service. https://hi-in.facebook.com/royalpoliceforceofantiguaandbarbuda/posts/acting-commissioner-of-police-atlee-patrick-rodney-is-to-receive-the-queens-poli/1505161246328434/ There is a link in the facebook, to a You Tube video where Mr Rodney is interviewed. But watch his ribbon bar : 3 ribbon, the one at left is Regional Security Medal ( Mr Rodney was sent to Grenada in 1983). The 2 others medals, one is the Antigua & Barbuda Police LSGC (the one at right ), but the one in the middle got a bit similar stripes, but in a different sequence, so I bet, it shall exist an Antigua & Barbuda Police Meritorious Service Medal (likely). See the screen capture, clearly the 2 ribbon at right and middle are almost, but NOT similar !! But till we got a photographic evidence, we just can guess. Or maybe Ilja, or someone else can help. Best regards. Emmanuel

About 3 months ago, we got to know that Antigua & Barbuda had also a Police Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. This medal was for sale in an auction house of London, and I did bought it. We can bet that it shall exist an upper medal of the Antigua Police Service (next post). Regards to all. Emmanuel

The last medal from this serie, the Antigua & Barbuda 25th Anniversary of Independence 1981-2006. This medal was struck by ELM from Singapore, and is in rhodium plated silver. For the first time ever, there is an Antigua & Barbuda Medal from which the suspension swivel. Regards to all. Emmanuel

It seems it exist another version of the 21st Anniversary of Independence Medal, in metal gilt, much lighter. And of cheaper manufacturing quality. I have got this medal from a brazilian fellow, that ounce was staying long time in Antigua. I can only bet that the high quality medal, that is shown on the Post above, was reserved for high ranking Officials attending the Ceremony, and that this medal was more largely awarded to others participants. But without more conclusive information, it's only a guessing. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Nano, If you can find photo, that would be great. Si usted puede buscar este fotografia de Trujillo, o la foto de la condecoracion de Trujillo, es muy bien. Muchas Gracias a Usted. Emmanuel

Here is a medal; that I had never been aware about, before I got to see it. It's the Medal for the 21th Anniversary of Independence of Antigua & Barbuda. So, why 21 ? Because it is the "age of consent" and this concept is still of great importance in the Caribbeans (and it was told to me, both by fellow from Barbados, and Trinidad). Anyways a superb medal, in silver gilt. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Here is the Medal for 15th Anniversary of Independence of Antigua & Barbuda. We know that this medal was produced by Spink & Son of London, unlike the Independence Medal and the following 21 & 25th Anniversary Medal. This medal is silvered cuprous-nickel. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, Here we enter in another category of Medals from Antigua & Barbuda, the Independence & Independence Anniversary Commemorative Medal. Here the medal that commemorate the Independence of Antigua & Barbuda from the United Kingdom on 1st November 1981. The medal is silver-gilt, and its diameter is 36 Millimeters. On the reverse you can see the map of the 2 islands, Antigua on bottom, and the less populated Barbuda, above. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Despite being a multi national medal, that is worn by member of the Defense Forces from others Caribbeans Nations, Antigua & Barbuda includes this medal among the list of "its" award (see first photo of this post, on 3rd column, upper side). It is the Regional Security System Medal. It can be awarded for small deployment in the territory of others Caribbeans Nations, for various reason, incl assistance when there is a hurricane, The medal has seen at least 2 strike (one very smooth relief, and another one with much better struck). It is in silvered metal. Best regards. Emmanuel

Here is the last of the purely antiguan Medal (among the "service" medal). Because later on there will be the various Independence Medal and its anniversary (which of course are also purely antiguan & barbudian. The ABDF Efficient Service Medal. The medal is silver, and its diameter is 34 Millimeters. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Here, and still following the ABDF hierarchy of medals, we have the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, L.S.G.C. Medal The medal is silver, with red enamel surrounding the Coat of Arms of Antigua & Barbuda on obverse center of the medal. Its diameter is 34 Millimeters. Regards to all. Emmanuel .

Here we have the ABDF GSM ( General Service Medal ). The medal is silver & enamel on its obverse. The diameter of the medal is 34 Millimeters. From the whole series, of the Antigua & Barbuda I have been able to get over the year, it is the onliest that I have got, issued, to : " E . Greene " I bought this medal in 2015, from a seller from Florida, and I was said it had been issued to a US Servicemen. Which I have no proof, but the story that the seller told me. Anyways, in all my life, I just saw 2 for sale. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Here is the Antigua & Barbuda Medal for Meritorious Service. It's a silver gilt medal, and its diameter is 34 Millimeters. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Here is the Gallantry Medal from Antigua & Barbuda Defense Force. The medal is silver-gilt with enameled Coat of Arms on obverse center, and its diameter is 34 Millimeters. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Here is Tajikistan Order of Friendship. Very nice quality. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, I will start to list the Medal of the State of Antigua & Barbuda in the Caribbean. Antigua & Barbuda got its Independence from United Kingdom on 1st November 1981, since then Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of Antigua & Barbuda. Antigua & Barbuda do not have an Army, but a Defense Force, the ABDF ( Antigua & Barbuda Defense Force ). It's strength is 245 Personnel, + 70 Reserve. It's not huge, but they have been deployed overseas on 3 occasions : 1983 : 14 Men were deployed to Grenada during the Operation Urgent Fury 1990 : 12 Soldiers were sent to Trinidad & Tobago after a failed Coup d'Etat attempt by radical black muslims against the constitutionally elected Government headed by Prime MinisterA.N.R. Robinson 1995 : Members of the ABDF were deployed in Haiti as part of the Operation Uphold Democracy. But on that time the ABDF had not yet any medals on their own, they were instituted later. The Defense (Decoration) Regulations were made by the Governor General, under Section 160, of Cap 132 of the Defense Act. It governs the issuing of decorations to members of the Antigua & Barbuda Defense Force ( ABDF ). The Medals were created in 1999, and only started to be issued in 2000. One of the source is the magazine of the Antigua & Barbuda Defense Force : PARATUS. The motto of the ABDF is Paratus ad Serviendum ( Ready to Serve ), it make sense their Force Magazine is names : Paratus. I will list the medal one by one, it will takes times, so please wait for comments. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Nona, Welcome to the Forum. I have been to Santo Domingo for 4 Days in January 2015. It was a Caribbean Tours started in Barbados, then Trinidad & Tobago, then Dominican Republic. I visited a fellow there, who own only one medal, the Order of Santana in Gold (silver gilt) with the Tri Colour ribbon. But he had never wanted to sell it to me...... Just curious, if you got a photo of the Gold Order of Santana with Diamonds, that is for the President. Just to show. Best regards. Emmanuel

It's a typical early Arthus Bertrand breast star of Grand Officer, just the crossed swords above the center, doesn't exist. So yes it was added later to try to "bait" a potential collector, who would have believe in the "fairy tale" that he was going to get a unique item. People who lives far away from Europe, and far away from Belgium or Netherlands, or France where most of these Order have been awarded got rarely the occasion to get to see variation of insignia of Order Adolph Nassau, and believe me, there is, but mainly there is variation in low ranks. For the 2 higher grades of the Order, there is very very few variation. And crossed swords above the center of the 2nd Class breast star, it doesn't exist. Even if one, can admit, that a manufacturer may have presented what would look like such an insignia, in case the Grand Duke of Luxembourg would have agreed to changes the legislation of the Order, and open provision "For Military Merit in Time of Peace"......but it never materialized in the facts. As that breast star was for sale by Carsten Zeige, everybody should exerce caution. Regards to all. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen, Nowhere in the Luxembourg legal text concerning award, there is a mention of swords crossed above center of a breast star. In the german, romanian, & bulgarian system, it would indicates an award to a military in peace time. But no such things exist in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Obviously the breast star is guenuine , but typical manufacture from Arthus Bertrand. We can assume that this breast star is a "freak" as Ernst Blass had had manufactured items that never existed, in the purpose to deceive collectors. I remember having seen this star at the time of the auction, better if no body has bought it. Regards. Emmanuel