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Hello Gentlemen, recently I found this picture while surfing on the net. Gambia Armed Force Medal No other mention than the picture itself. Emmanuel

Concerning the Order of Simon Bolivar (sometimes refered by some sources as Order of the Libertador, but it is the same) : The breast star with the head of Simon Bolivar in center is Grand Cross breast star, the breast star with Coat of Arms in center is the breast star of Grand Officer. Since its institution this Order has been manufactured by a lot of manufacturer Halley,Kretly & Arthus Bertrand from Paris,I saw ounce a Grand Officer star by Wolfers of Bruxelles and also one by Van Weilijk. Plus there was a venezuelian manufacturer ,Gathams Caracas who manufactured them well,but it was 100 to 80 years ago. The much recent manufactured insignia by Meyer of New York are of bad quality. I'am pretty sure manufacturer from Madrid made some,as also Rothe from Austria. Emmanuel

For individuals is given the Star of Military Accomplishment.Still a big one,but smaller. Just 70 millimeters wide and just only 86 millimeters height which is enormous when to compare to european size awards. Its weight is 72 grammes. Emmanuel

For individuals is given the Star of Military Accomplishment.Still a big one,but smaller. Just 70 millimeters wide and just only 86 millimeters height which is enormous when to compare to european size awards. Its weight is 72 grammes. Emmanuel

Hello Sabrigade.I will post a clearer picture.Sometimes scanner are better than digital photo camera. It's only the 2 nd time I see this very very big Order which is 83 millimeters wide & 103 millimeters height with a weight of 125 grammes. The case I have with it is brown leather with coat of arms of Sudan. I would be happy to enter in direct communication with you . Emmanuel

Reverse

Here you can see 2 medals from the time of the Presidency of President Tubman commemorating the Centenary of the Union of the 2 States (Liberia & Maryland) in 1957. Few people may know this story but Liberia was not the onliest Republic to have been formed by former freed slaves.A smaller one Maryland existed for a short time from 1834 (first settlment) to 1854 (formal Independence) to 1857 (Union with Liberia). But this smaller Independent Republic was attacked by local tribes and ask for military help of the Liberia.Later it comes clear that Maryland was too small to survives and it united to Liberia. Read the following link below,it is very interesting. http://en.wikipedia....lic_of_Maryland Look carefully the 2 medals.There is 2 different dies for the obverse and for the reverse. One with tri-colored ribbon pays tribute to Superintendent F.W.Gibson an dthe one with plain yellow ribbon pay tribute to Chief Hedo Hodo. Superintendent F.W.Gibson was the "chief" of Maryland county in 1957 (but since 1857 2 others Gibson had been Superintendent). Chief Hedo Hodo was Paramount Chief of Nymowe Chiefdoom. Emmanuel

Here is a picture of such a medal.You can see on second picture the hallmark near the edge "835". The uncle of a fellow collector was the official french representant to the ceremony. Emmanuel

President William Tubman(1944-1971) was an important State Men from the 3rd quarter of the XX century.He was a Pan Africanist and he tried to build a modern country.Sadly the civil war that ravaged Liberia in the 90ies put these efforts to nothing. William Tolbert succeded President Tubman at his death in 1971.He seeemed not to have instituted an Inauguration Medal (or maybe it exist a larger and non wearable medal ???). The medal shown here is in silvered metal,but high officials present at Monrovia during the Inauguration of President Tubman in 1956 got the same medal but in silver (hallmarked) in a Tiffany's case. http://en.wikipedia..../William_Tubman Emmanuel

This medal is the Centenary of Independence Medal 1947. In the ribbon charts from Arthus Bertrand the ribbon exist. Was this Medal officialy given during the ceremonies for the centenary of Independence of Liberia or was this medal just a presentation token given to guests,I don't know. Emmanuel

Here is a medal that lots of you have already seen somewhere. This Medal of Merit which exist in 3 classes ( bronze,silver & silver gilt ) is associated with the Order of the African Star (itself instituted in 1920). This medal has been used over the times as a kind of Presidential Medal of Honour when the Presiden t of Liberia was on State Visit abroad.This is the reason why this medal is seen so often. I know lots of member will immediately say : "oh I see this medal with another ribbon on this dealer website".....but believe me this is the correct ribbon.Keep in mind that people may have lost their ribbon,or any way dealers know that it's ever easier to sell a medal that has a ribbon rather than a medal which is ribbonless. Emmanuel

This beautifull medal is usually associated with the Order of African Redemption,but no sources can asset this.And the Statute of the Order of African Redemption does not have a 6th class. This medal has been seen with either "HONOR" or "HONOUR" on reverse and exist in 3 classes (gilt,silvered & bronze). E.J.Fischer wrote in his monography on liberain medals that local sources report it as National Merit Medal with Civil & Military Division.The example shown below has the military ribbon.The Civil Division use either an African Redeemption Order ribbon; a green ribbon with 3 thin central red stripes or a blue ribbon with diagonal red stripes. Mr Fischer report another local source indentifying it as Service Medal (with green ribbon with 3 central red stripes). Anyway a not common medal. Emmanuel

Here is the Marksmanship Medal .Sources state that former President Tubman (1944-1971) instituted this medal in same time as the 3 Long Service Decoration. This Medal was given to enlisted riflemen who scored over 95 percent hits during a specified training period,usually 3 months .the medal was extended to pistol qualification in 1980 and to Officers in 1985 (Source : Monography of E.J.Fischer). Emmanuel

Here is the Liberian United Nations Service Medal. I have absolutely no idea when this medal was last awarded,but I'am sure someone here know the answer.....or even better has a picture of liberian troops under the blue helmet. Liberian troops were send to Democratic Republic of Congo (former Belgian Congo) in the early 60ies and also in Nigeria during the Biafra Crisis. Emmanuel

Here is the 10 Years Long Service Decoration. Emmanuel

Then comes the Long Service Decoration ,and 3 exist : The 5 Years Long Service Decoration (shown here) ,the 10 Years Long Service Decoration and the 15 Years Long Service Decoration (that I do not have and that I would be very keen to be able to buy).The 15 Years Long Service Decoration is octogonal and has the figure 15 in center of obverse with green enameled oak leaf surround. Here the 5 Years Long Service Decoration. The Long Service Decoration were first granted in 1961 (Source E.J.Fischer Monography on Liberian Medals). Emmanuel

The 2nd highest Liberian military Medal is the Outstanding Soldier Medal.It's a circular medal with laurel leaf crown suspension.A standing elephant with trunk raised on obverse & the word "SOLDIER" on reverse. The ribbon is rainbow. If someone has a colour pictures he is welcome to post it here. And if someone has one for sale,I'am ready to buy it.... Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen,I will do my best to list the Medal of the Republic of Liberia, a country "created" in 1847 by freed former american slaves with the help of the American Colonisation Society. E.J.Fisher published an excellent monography on the Medals of the Republic of Liberia and I want to pay him tribute. For those who wants to know more about Liberia history : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Liberia I will begin by listing the military related awards,then the civilian related awards then the commemorative medals. I will begin by the Military Merit Order ,but as it's without enamel,and purely a military award I decided to list it here. Some sources refers as 1914 as its date of creation,then modificated in 1956.The book of Nicolas de Roffignac states it was widely awarded in the 40ies & 50ies and that it fell into obsolesence after President samuel Doe had given it for the last time in 1985. Emmanuel

General de Gaulle was awarded a special version of the National Order of the Niger with diamons ball tipped. Vatjan has to be credited for the beautifull pictures he took from the awards of General de Gualle who are on dsiplay in the Museum of the Order of the Compagnon of Liberation (it's inside the Army Museum in Paris,just next to the Dome of the Invalid where Emperor Napoleon is buried). Emmanuel

And here a close up on the Grand Officer breast star. The diameter of the star is 88 millimeters. Emmanuel

Here a close up on the Officer's badge. The Officer displayed here is in metal gilt,but earlier version in the 60ies were made in silver gilt. Emmanuel

Here a Commander of the National Order. Emmanuel

Hello Gentlemen,here is the senior Order of Niger, the National Order. The National Order was instituted by Law 61.130/PRN of 24 July 1961 (2 Years before Order of Merit & Order of Agricultural Merit). It's a 5 classes Order : Grand Cross - Grand Officer - Commander - Officer - Knight + a Collar reserved for the Grand Master of the Order. To be awarded the National Order,a citizen must be minimum 30 years old,justify a minimum of 15 years in the civil service of the state,or 20 years in the private sector. Promotion from Knight to Officer needs a minimum of 5 years.Promotion from Officer to Commander needs a minimum of 4 years.Then 3 years for Grand Officer and again 3 years for Grand Cross. Of course these promotion are NOT automatic. Here is presented the set of Grand Officer. Emmanuel