Markus

Hi Nick! Thanks for all your recent posts. I believe these were Dortheum auction, right? I am the lucky owner of post #653 and post # 654. Post # 652 is a Bertrand made breast star and shows up occasionally at double the auction purchased price on Ebay. Post #651was sold at auction and then re-appeared on Emedals site for double the auction price.That Dorotheum auction was such a nice auction of a collectors entire collection of Persia Lion and Sun medals. It is rare to have so many great Lion and Sun pieces show up at one time. One thing I have definitely learned is that it is cheaper to buy at auction rather than from a dealer who re-sells the auction items. Hope all is well in Moscow! :cheers:

This is the officer class Order of Industrial Merit medal and the back name plate.

The Order of Industry was originally created (as Agricultural and Industrial Merit) in 1893. These were revived and reformed in 1926, again in 1991.This is of 2nd type and an older vintage. Manufactured by : "M. Pinhao, Condecoracoes, Rl Pedras Negras, 3 r/c.- Lisboa". I really like this design with the rays and stars also used in the Portuguese order of Villa Vicosa. The nameplate of M. Pinhoa is on the back of the medals. I could not find any more information on this maker.

The back. No maker marks, just wear marks.

This was another early Persian made Lion and Sun on Ebay recently. The Lion painting looks familiar, and the form with tiny stars is quite nice.

I neglected to post the back of the medal. It doesn't appear to have any maker marks. Another mystery maker ( probably Russian). There should have been a law making seller marks and plates manditory so future collectors like myself could be more informed. :cool:

Hi Mat, The star you posted earlier in this thread was a different one with purple stones and a different painting of the lion. Did you sell that one as well? The really early Persian Lion and Sun medals rarely come up for sale with the vast majority being the later Saniolmamalek models that are quite abundant. Markus

The hand painted lion was very distinctive and original.

A beautiful Russian made Lion and Sun with rhinestones. This was listed on Ebay and was pirated away before closing and delisted.

Yes, a Boulanger sunset on the Black Sea. You have sharp eyes Nick! :catjava:

A most curious piece of artwork attributed to a patient suffering from LSD syndrome ( Lion Sun Disorder). The typical LSD inflicted patient can not concentrate on everyday matters and has an abnormal fixation on the Persian Lion and Sun order. Generally the patient can be calmed down and put in a less agitated state by showing the patient flash cards of Lion and Sun medals. Unfortunately at this point in time there is not a cure for the LSD syndrome.

Wow what an incredible collection the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg has! The collection covers quite a range of makers. First time I have seen some of the styles of Lion and Sun. Nick & Mitya, thanks so much for sharing this collection! Markus

Wow, thanks Mitya and Nick! These truly are unique and beautiful. Markus

I would think a 4th class knight model. Markus

Hello Jentiff, Wow, congratulations on such a rich ancestral heritage! Regarding the group photo taken on the Royal Yacht, I do not have an original of it and found it in digital form on a blog site. I imagine that an original photo of this event would be very scarce with the ravages of time and limited distribution, so I would say yours is quite rare. Many of the original prints probably went back to Persia with participants of the visit, so given the political upheaval in Persia, I imagine many of these photos were destroyed. The other photo I posted of the Shah with the King & Queen on the Royal Yacht is from an original photo postcard I have in my possession. Any of the images or medal photos that you wish to share of this splendid era of history would be most welcome! Any Persian Lion and Sun medals In your possession? Best Regards, Markus markustruckee@gmail.com

Close up of the Dragon.

Thanks for posting this beauty Nick! I must have been sleeping when you posted it! I believe my Commander Dragon of Annam is of the same make. For a while it confused me in that I was not able to find similar French made Dragon of Annam medals similar in style to mine, but now I have the answer, it is of Dutch manufacture. The Van Wielik maker produces very high quality medals and I imagine that very few Dragon of Annams were produced by them.

Congratulations Gavin! Having witnessed the birth of this labor of love book, The Order of the Double Dragon, I am proud and impressed with the quality of this landmark publication. May the Force be with you! Markus

The back.

close up.

A beautiful unique jeweled Lion and Sun that was recently sold on Ebay for $4,550. The prices on these always amaze me!

Hi Rich, Gavin is right in that there are wide price variations for this Lion and Sun medal. Generally the Persian made ones are by far more abundant and can be reasonably priced. The exception are very early Persian made Lion and Sun which are quite scarce and usually command high prices at auction. The Persian made ones pop up on Ebay occasionally and seem to fall in the $200-$600 range for a 4th or 5th class model, depending on condition and dealers pricing. Here are a few dealer links that have a range of the Persian made ones for sale: http://www.coins-la-galerie-numismatique.com/orders-medals/order-lion-and-sun-28 http://www.liverpoolmedals.com/Persia-Iran/ https://www.emedals.com/Pages/Auction/Search.aspx?chkA=true&chkDS=true&s=persian The European made ones are a whole different subject. The quality of these European made Lion and Sun medals is fantastic. France, Belgium, Germany and Russia produced the majority of these pieces. Medals with the makers plate on the back are priced at the highest premium. The European made ones can generally be found in European auction houses and the competition can be quite fierce driving the hammer price up to high levels. Occasionally a European made Lion and Sun medal can be found at a dealer and they sell pretty fast. So the prices run the gamut depending on the maker, class of medal, condition of medal and auction competition. Most of the medals in my collection are of European make: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/gallery/album/200-markus-collection-persia-lion-suns/ There are a few antique books on the subject and a Danish book in PDF format that Nick will send your way, but nothing really current and comprehensive. This forum thread probably has the most comprehensive photo record of Lions and Suns available. Your time in Iran as a youth sounds fascinating! Things certainly have changed dramatically for Iran after the revolution and their history is very turbulent in general. Markus

Welcome back! :whistle: :rock on:

Hello mars13, Gavin the Double Dragon master (Drclaw) is still sleeping in Western Australia. He will comment on your beautiful double dragon medal when he awakens. Very nice medal! Markus

Missing JapanX! :(