Moroccans, Belgian Agents and a big nosed Spaniard...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Chris,

very nice catch, is it possible e to give some more info on the Belgian agent 'Britisch' medal?

Im very interested in that one

Cordial greetings,

Hi Stijn,

Here you go...

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3245

best

Chris

[Stijn David]

Hi Chris,

Much appreciated

Cordial greetings,

[Ed_Haynes]

Your big-nosed Spaniard is the Spanish Medalla de ?frica, 1912. See Antonio Prieto Barrio's http://www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medall.../campafrica.htm

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here is a nice pic of the one with the star of David...

dont understand the text though... does it say who is entitled to it?

http://www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medall...o/marruecos.htm

thanks

chris

[Ed_Haynes]

See: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3374

Too many parallel threads here, methinks?

[Chris Boonzaier]

See: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3374

Too many parallel threads here, methinks?

Sorry, right you are. I did not realise it was the same text.

[Djedj]

Hello Chris,

The Star of David finds its origin in the Seal of Solomon (or Suleyman).

This symbol is present in the Juish, Muslim and Christian cultures.

For some reason I don't really know, the Seal of Solomon evolved into a 5 branches star pattern (displayed on the flag of Morocco today), but some 6 branches versions did exist until quite recently in Muslim countries.

You'll find some examples of coins from Morocco with a 6 star branches ; like these XIXth Century :

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/approche-numismatique/mar_4fa.htm

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/approche-numismatique/mar_2di.htm

This one is from 1921 :

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/approche-numismatique/mar_25ct.htm

This one is from 1954 ; interesting both stars are inscribed :

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/approche-numismatique/mar_100f.htm

As for your original question - but my best guess is that this 6 branches star represented Morocco - at a time when we must remember there was no state of Israel.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hello Chris,

The Star of David finds its origin in the Seal of Solomon (or Suleyman).

This symbol is present in the Juish, Muslim and Christian cultures.

For some reason I don't really know, the Seal of Solomon evolved into a 5 branches star pattern (displayed on the flag of Morocco today), but some 6 branches versions did exist until quite recently in Muslim countries.

You'll find some examples of coins from Morocco with a 6 star branches ; like these XIXth Century :

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/approche-numismatique/mar_4fa.htm

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/approche-numismatique/mar_2di.htm

This one is from 1921 :

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/approche-numismatique/mar_25ct.htm

This one is from 1954 ; interesting both stars are inscribed :

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/approche-numismatique/mar_100f.htm

As for your original question - but my best guess is that this 6 branches star represented Morocco - at a time when we must remember there was no state of Israel.

Hi,

an interesting point you make. All over Morocco there are vendors trying to sell old coins with 6 pointed stars saying "From the Jewish period"... but as you point out... when all those coins were made, there was no state with the 6 pointed star as a symbol, so I guess at the time it WAS indeed moroccan.

[Djedj]

Well sources say that coin design with the 6 pointed star Solomon's seal was actually introduced by Sultan Slimane (a bona fide muslim - so much for the 'Jewish Era' thing) because Morocco, due to a scarcity of gold, was forced to cast coins.

he would have chosen that symbol to counter the belief that "coins not made of noble metal were impure" and shouldn't be handled - not a reaction you want when you're introducing new coinage !

Displaying the Solomon's seal was a clever trick : the seal was supposed to hold great magical powers (representing the elements with the all-seing Eye of God in the center of star) ; if you remember your 1001 nights, it is Solomon's seal that keeps the genius in the bottle.

Anyway he used the trick to make the coins desirable, for their symbolic if not for their metal. It worked.

The story here :

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/review/rev_spring2005.html

[Chris Boonzaier]

Found a photo with a Legionnaire wearing the Order of Ouissam Alaouite

[922F]

A French language book, ORDRES et DECORATIONS de l'EMPIRE CHERIFIEN au TEMPS du PROTECTORAT FRANCAIS au MAROC - 1912/1956, by Pierre ROUSSEAU published 2 years ago explains Ouissam Alaouite Ch?rifien Order (Quissan Alaouite) insignia variations, as well as other Moroccan awards. FJP auctions offered a copy recently. Copies were also for sale at the 2006 OMSA convention and probably will be available at OMSA 2007.