JapanX

This time it is not plate, but engraving

Another 100% Persian

The price tag for this one is a little bit crazy though ... £ 2,850

3rd class from Wolfers According to the seller this piece was issued to M. Armand Casier on 01.05. 1914 Kitty kitty kitty

+ can you read the inscription on reverse perimeter?

How things Babar? Any idea what is the original name for this medal?

Beautiful! Indeed looks like upside-down Д.О. mark with unstamped Д :cheers:

Rene, why "end of 1 ww" and why do you think, that "from 1916", i.e. this new reverse design was introduced in 1916? Did you see any others medals from 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915? Or from 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1923 for that matter? The only thing that we know for a fact is that in 1907 these medals still had old style reverse. Why? Because I have scans of such medal with date ١٣۲۵ on reverse As for your medal - looks like it has ١٣٣۴ (although the image is not very sharp) on reverse and different seal in the centre of reverse. Could be stylized (?) احمد شاه مسعود Ahmad Shah

So the question is how rare is this particular variation? Undoubtedly it is more rare than our usual version of the medal. Could be a later design of the medal that was in use between 1909 and 1925 during the reign of last Qajar - Ahmad Shah. Cheers, Nick

Interesting criterion of rarity Another medal from different year is currently on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/IRAN-PERSIA-Medal-of-Bravery-with-original-ribbon-/321085078214?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac2297ac6

Formally this is persian medal. Lion and Sun is of course Persian/Iranian emblem. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem_of_Iran Rare? You certainly don't see them every day, but these are not very rare.

A little excerpt from "Encyclopædia Iranica" article "Decorations" "The eighth and ninth classes of the Lion and sun for military personnel were considered medals. In 1269/1852 Dār al-fonūn (q.v.) began awarding gold, silver, and copper medals bearing the image of the lion and sun to outstanding students. The Madrasa-ye nāṣerī and Madrasa-ye neẓām-e dawlatī also granted medals (Šahīdī, pp. 226-29; Rabino di Borgomale, 1974, pl. 44/51; many examples are in the collection of the Sepah bank museum in Tehran). Later this system was replaced by the ʿElmī medal, with three classes, for the dissemination and advancement of knowledge; it was bestowed upon students, teachers, university professors, writers, and scientists, both Persian and foreign" It could be that in 1872 (or somewhere around this date) general medal in three classes was established. Cheers, Nick

Hi Rene, sometimes they indeed call it Medal of the Order of the Lion and the Sun Here you will find this medal in two british (non-military) groups. http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-archive/lot.php?auction_id=38&lot_id=27647 http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-archive/lot.php?auction_id=134&lot_id=66486 Indeed, according to the Order of the Lion and the Sun statute of 1848 two lower classes of the order were medals (6 medals in 7th class (3 in gold and 3 in silver) and 5 medals in 8th class (all in silver)). What happened with these medals later is not known for sure. Most likely in 1872 (when order was modified and instead of numerous different classes and grades got only 5 classes) these 11 medals become obsolete. Instead all of them a new unified (by design) medal was established. Unfortunately the regulation for this medal is not known to me... It looks like this medal wasn't strictly military award. Usually they call it "Medal of the Order of the Lion and the Sun". Sometimes "Bravery medal" or "Medal for Valor". Looks like there were three classes of this new medal Bronze Silver Gold The earliest medal that is known to me has 1299 on reverse (i.e. 1881) and made in bronze Also medals from the following years are known to me 1881 1882 1884 1899 1900 1901 Your medal has very interesting feature - all medals that I saw had inscription on the perimeter of reverse - yours medal has wreath of laurel and oak. Regards, Nick

Have somewhere photo of St.Vladimir combined with Garter that belonged to Nikolay I. Will post it soon

He knew ... Or maybe it was Dawe George (who painted this portrait)? Seriously though, I have somewhere black-and-white photo of the very same combistar that we observe on Dawe portrait. St. Andrew the First-Called + Order of the Garter + Order of Sword. Will post it in a couple of days ;)

Busy bees ... Too lazy to make new pictures?

Bushing ;)

Yep. Central medallion, silver rays ... everything is on the move Why do you think tiger looks so unhappy?

9I Not bad ... For eBay

This is jetton of 1st national census that was held in 1920. Issued to active participants. Made in silver. On reverse you will see a map of Japan Cheers, Nick

Hi Steve, this is not Japanese , but Uruguayan. Why? See (post #30 +) http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/54205-order-of-the-eastern-republic-of-uruguay/page-2 Cheers, Nick

Hardly Premio di produzione was at stake

I posted them only as illustrations of OTK (quality control department) work :)

Yep, nothing specific on reverses ...