Markus

Hi drclaw, This is a Bichay made piece. Purchased from emedals. From what I have been told, Bichay family members are still in business making medals, even though the founder has passed on. I have only seen the order of agriculture for sale only one time on all the dealer sites and ebay. The Egyptian order medals by Bichay or Lattes really impress me with the workmanship, design and quality. I wonder if the current orders will continue or be revised with the recent changes in government in Egypt. Thanks for your earlier response on the Persian Lion & Sun order! Best Regards, Marcus

Very nice drclaw! I agree with you that these medals are fantastic. Be careful with the ultra sonic cleaner. Most jewelers refrain from using the ultrasonic treatment on enameled jewelry because it can loosen or chip the enamel off. I am on the lookout for a commander badge lion and sun like yours. What is the range of $ this type generally sells for. You have been busy building your collection! Congrats! Markus

Very nice set of order medals! Good trade. Any maker marks on the back of breast star? Markus

I agree, they do look different. I would suggest contacting Bison a member of GMIC. He seems to be an expert on LOH. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/user/2068-bison/ and the French site http://www.forum-insignes-medailles.net. The French site has many experts on LOH as well. Best Wishes, Marcus

Hi Sergio, There is a Medal of Honor from the Second Restoration period with same trefoil top on the crown. However the medallion has King Henri IV rather than Napoleon. http://www.klm-mra.be/klm-new/engels/collecties/OMD-LDH/croix_frame.html Regards, Marcus

Very nice! Thanks for sharing! Marcus

Impressive collection! Thanks for sharing. Regards, Marcus

O.K. I think Liverpool medals and the French medal site have their ID's wrong. The Mohamed name is the same in the cipher thus leading to the confusion. There are very small differences between Mohamed Sadok cipher and Mohamed Al Amin. I am attaching this guide from the French site Zitoland, since it does a great job on ID's of ciphers. Regards, Marcus

Thanks Noor, now I see it as a Mohammed Al Naceur. I have another Naceur that doesn't look even close to this one. Attached is another medal that I have pegged as a Al Amin Bey, that is being shipped to me by snail mail from France. Do you agree this Al Amin Bey period is 1942 - 1957. I am a little confused on this one since a French medal sight( http://www.semon.fr/DECORATIONS_TUNISIENNES.htm) has it listed as a Mohamed el Sadok and Liverpool medals also has it listed as a Sadok ( http://www.liverpoolmedals.com/Order-of-Nichan-Iftikhar.html } Thanks, Marcus

Hello Gents, I love this thread! It has helped me ID a lot of Nichan medals. Thanks for everyone's input into this thread! Attached is a Nichan Iftikhar medal that I have been stumped in trying to identify. It must be one of the French medal maker that took great liberties in transcribing the Bey's cipher to the medal. Can anyone steer me into the right direction? I was thinking Sadok or Pacha. Thanks, Marcus

Thanks James for your addition. It is very hard to find substantial info on this order. The info I have posted was pulled off an Iranian site. I really love the enamel work on this order and admire the simplicity of the design. Regards, Marcus

Thanks Antonio, the Cejalvo plaque looks identical.

Thanks for your help Uwe!

Hello Gentlemen, I added a new Isabella Breast star to my collection. Can anyone help me with a time period this Breast star was made and what FS stands for.....Fernando and ?. Thanks for your help! Regards, Marcus

Thanks Lorenzo! I love your Iraq military collection and have read all your posts. I recently purchased an El Rafidain Breast star and commander cross from the Kingdom era. They are getting quite hard to come by and the prices have zoomed up. I think that order goes way to the top of my list of the most beautiful orders ever made. Keep us updated on your great collection! Regards, Marcus

Persia Homayoun Lion and Sun Grand Cross Pahlavi period 1925-41 A new system of official honors was instituted by the Pahlavi dynasty. The Lion and Sun decoration was continued, with major modifications, from the Qajar period. The five classes of the Lion and sun for civilians persisted under the name Homayoun. The Homayoun was a simplified and modernized version of the original Qajar Lion and sun. The badge consisted of a central medallion bearing an enameled disk of the lion with upraised sword andthe rising sun, framed within a six-pointed star; the star was a similar badgesuperimposed upon a sunburst with eight points; the third class consisted only of the star, without the badge. The first class was worn with a green sash bordered in red stripes, the second class suspended from a red-bordered green ribbon by means of a rosette. There was also a Homayoun medal, with three grades, of gold, silver, and bronze, intended for lower-ranking civil servants. In the last decades of the Pahlavi dynasty it ceased to be awarded. The breast badges with the eight enameled green rays were the first type issued and later breast badges had no enameled rays. The manufacture of this posted breast cross medal was the French firm Arthus Bertrand. Any additional information and photos pertaining to this order would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Marcus

I recently purchased this Bolivian Order of the Condor having admired the design and workmanship on this order for quite some time. In trying to gather information on this order I have found very little information as follows: The Order of the Condor of the Andes(Orden Nacional del Cóndor de los Andes)is a medal of the Bolivian government. Instituted on April 12, 1925, the Order is awarded for exceptional merit, either civil or military, shown by Bolivians or foreign nationals. There are six grades: Collar, Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight. The order is still in existence and is awarded by the Bolivian government. I am seeking any additional information on the history of this order and would be grateful for any additional information that GMIC members could provide. Were there other makers beside Arthus Bertrand of this order? How many of these medals were issued? Also any other photos of various types members have in their collections posted to this thread would be great! Many Thanks, Marcus

Emmanuel, Thank you so much for your clarifications and knowledge on the Order of The Republic. It is amazing how one little detail on an order can give it a whole new history. Did the firm continue after Mr. Bichay's passing or is it now a piece of history? From what I have read Bichay's firm was famous for producing orders for many middle eastern countries and an official Jeweler to the rulers of Egypt. Best Regards, Marcus on the Order of The Republic.

This is the Egyptian order of Agriculture. Very high quality workmanship and heavy silver. Bichay maker.

Thanks Paul, The quality of the workmanship is amazing. So I take it that the firm Bichai is no longer in business? Best Regards, Marcus

The Commanders badge.

The Breast Star image didn't attach, So here I try again.

I recently purchased an Egyptian Order of Republic set with commanders neck badge and breast star 2nd class, type two. The workmanship and design of this order astounds me! Can anyone tell me the maker of this medal and the approximate time frame it was made. Attached is the breast star and makers mark on the back of the medal. Thanks for your help!