JapanX

Yep, another "Good Fortune" badge made by TOMEI in Tokyo Bummer that reverse photos are "slightly out of focus"... But it seems that potential buyers couldn't care less - 1 day to go and the price is already sky high! Cheers, Nick

Nice bar with Companion (4th class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant! Very well made piece and I think it blended pretty well (by time period) with Danish Orders. Cheers, Nick

Hi North Denmark, well it is 5th class (a.k.a. Member) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant. This one looks like it was made in silver and has nice hot enamel, so it's not from the last horrible vintages I'd say this piece was made in 50s-60s and definitely before 1978 (when the Order was reorganized and the form of suspension was changed). Before 1978 5th class of this order should be the most numerous one (since the number of holders for this class was unrestricted as opposed to higher classes). Hope that helps! Regards, Nick

Cool! Looks like Order of Rank and Merit 2nd class (also known as "First Order of Rank and Merit")... Must be approximately 68mm in diameter It is indeed was founded on October 9, 1912 by Presient Yuan Shikai in 6 classes for Chinese Citizens (only after 1916 (when order changed his name to "Order of Merit" higher class became available to foreign Head of States). It was second highest order of the Republic (after 1st class (also known as Grand Order of Rank and Merit) - looks exactly the same, but has 13 pearls). But I was under the impression that all 6 classes existed as breast stars... I am afraid that Medal (?) from post # 59 (actually the whole family of such Medals) is completely different award. Indeed it is usually described as "Medal for Military Merit"... By the way, the manufacturer (one of many manufacturers?) of these medals was Lao Tien Li - his mark sometimes could be found on reverse along with the date (one specimen that looks exactly like piece from post #59 had a date July 1923 (sic!)) Regards, Nick P.S. I believe that many of these beautiful breast stars of Rank and Merit Order might be manufactured by Japanese workshops (including your beauty )

Currently RF has more then 2000 different departmental medals... Pretty soon every department will have special medal for every freaking day! Pathetic... I wonder how many years it will take to collect them all Congrats Frank!

Actually this “sash with coat of arms” practice is quite popular in Latin America. Presidente de la República de El Salvador Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena.

With applauding predecessor

Current President of Uruguay José Mujica with same ribbon

P.P.P.S. Lets hope that this is not the Collar Ex president of Uruguay Julio María Sanguinetti

And in conclusion this beautiful piece

or like this

But in practice you often see version like this (check out branches and colours!)

or like this

or like this

Exemplarily coat of arms will look like this

P.P.S. Heraldic addendum Since coat of arms is a central motive of Order of the Republic I think It will be interesting to discuss its interpretation and amazing instability. Uruguay coat of arms consists of an oval, which is divided into four equal sections and crowned by a rising golden sun (actually it is the “Sun of May” – national emblem of Uruguay (and Argentina) where “The Sun” is a representation of the Inca sun god Inti and “May” is a reference to the May Revolution which took place in the week from 18 to 25 May 1810, which marked the beginning of the country independence from the Spanish Empire). The oval is surrounded by a laurel branch on the left and an olive one on the right, representing honour and peace, joined at the bottom by a blue ribbon. In the upper left quarter of the oval we see a scale set on a blue background – symbol of equality and justice. In the upper right quarter we see Cerro de Montevideo (Montevideo Hill) with its fortress on the summit on a silver/white background – symbol of strength. In the lower left, also on a silver/white background, we find galloping horse – symbol of liberty. The lower right quarter holds an ox on a blue background, which is a symbol of abundance.

P.S. Unfortunately I couldn’t locate (the one and only?) published piece about this order: Fred Altmann // Der Orden der Republik Östlich des Uruguay. Orden und Ehrenzeichen, 4. Jahrgang, Heft 18, April 2002, S. 2 – 6. Maybe our German colleagues could help us with this one? Cheers, Nick

After the ceremony

Shiny!

Ambassador of Brazil in Uruguay Francisco Thompson-Flores is getting his Gran Oficial.

Tender emotions

Brothers in arms

Another Gran Cordón for the President of Dominican Republic Hipylito Mejha Dominguez and another “in reciprocity” happening.

Nice angle

And here we have U.S. ambassador in the process of getting his Comandante.