Markus

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

Here's a new example that arrived in the mail yesterday.

For some reason, these orders appeal to my inner child. It could be the cartoon lion and the smiley sun.

I'm enjoying the individual variations you find with these pieces. In the first example above, the lion looks more Tin Tin and you can see the smiley mouth of the sun. The lion in this and SignalCorps' example is more Marvel Comics, with the sun just peeking over back.

Other differences: the colour of the green enamels, the number of enamel rays, the positioning of the main rays of the medal, and the overall dimensions of the medal.

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

Marcus,

Thanks for posting this lovely image.

The Order of Humayoun (which means' the August') was an entirely new order and had nothing to do with the earlier Qajar Order of the Lion and Sun.

Although the image of the Lion and Sun was used for the new order, this is a national symbol and used in many instances. On the contrary, that Order of the Lion and Sun had become so discredited and so associated with corruption that everybody, the Pahlavis and even the last Qajar Shah wanted to drop any association with it. Indeed, if one looks at the Humayun, the only link is in the use of the Iranian national symbol, though even then the illustration is very different. The ribbon, shape of the badges and stars, classes, method of wear, are all different.

For comparative purposes if one looks at the British system of honours, the use of the St George symbol (and even name) for the George Cross, George Medal or the Order of St Michael and St George does not mean that all of these are part of the Order of the Garter!

Cheers,

James Hoard

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!

Hi Marcus,

it is F and Y: "F.Y." for Ferdinand and Isabella (Ysabella).

I think, that it is the period from 1936/1938 up to now(?)

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

Very nice Piece

Lorenzo

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.

On 4 october 1984 President Moubarak decided to return to the Egale of Saladin design (but without the 2 stars in the white central stripes).Few insignia of this type have been observed,but the star below is part of the 2nd Class of the Order of the Republic awarded to Jean Leclant (egyptologist and perpetual Secretary of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres) on 30 september 1987.

His insignia have been given to the Museum of the Legion of Honour in Paris.

Emmanuel

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 manufacturer is Tewfik Bichai probably made in the 1960's.

Charming man who I met on several occasions. He spent his latter years in Canada.

In the 1980's and 90's he was selling off large quantities of surplus stock not only of Egyptian but other middle eastern Orders.

Paul

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

The Commanders badge.

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!

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!