oamotme Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 (edited) Gentlemen, I have recently had the good fortune to obtain an interesting group, which although missing two medals, is a group which I should be able to complete. The mounted group consists of : Order of Menelik, 4th Class (missing and a "spare worn Haile Selassie merit medal has been substitutued) Order of the Star, 4th Class Large gilt Haile Selassie Medal of Merit Haile Selassie Jubilee Medal 25th Anniversary of Liberation Medal Norway - Medal of Olav V Greece - Order of George I, 6th Class (thank you Emannuel) Holland - Order of Orange Nassau, 5th Class (or possibly medal?) Denmark - Medal of Frederick IX Belgium - Order of the Crown, 4th Class What attracted me to the group is that it was the first time I had seen a mounted group including the Jubilee and 25th Anniversary medals, both relatively scarce, especially the Jubilee medal. It also provides some scope for research in as much as I hope to be able to track down the state visits by Haile Selassie to the overseas countries or indeed visits by Heads of State to Addis Ababa. From the grades of awards, both Ethiopian and from overseas, I would infer that the recipient was an official at the Court of Haile Selassie. Whilst I should be able to obtain an Order of Menelik without great difficulty a challenge I have is to ascertain whether the missing Dutch order is indeed the 5th Class of the Order of Orange Nassau or a Medal of the Order and thus I will also post this topic in the European (Netherlands) forum - that forum may also be able to provide further information on the Danish and Norwegian awards. KInd regards and festive greetings from Riyadh, Owain Raw-Rees Edited December 17, 2012 by oamotme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oamotme Posted December 16, 2012 Author Share Posted December 16, 2012 Gentlemen, An image of the reverse of the group. Owain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Oamotme Lovely group. I assume you had to break the '$10 each' for this one. Any problems getting them out of the country? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul R Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Will the missing medals be very difficult to find? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 (edited) I would think a spare Order of Menelik would be a challenge, while the Dutch one should be commoner and therefore easier.Peter Edited January 13, 2013 by peter monahan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oamotme Posted January 13, 2013 Author Share Posted January 13, 2013 Dear Paul & Peter, The missing medal has been confirmed as the Dutch medal (probably civil) of the Order of Orange Nassau and most probabaly the gold (gilt) issue - this is available with various European dealers. The Order of Meneleik is also available with a couple of international dealers. In due course I will "pull finger out" and get them. Yes, I did break the $10 rule and the group was posted to the UK. I posted this in the Nortehr European section and received much assistance from GMIC members knowledgeable in these areas. Kind regards, Owain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter monahan Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 An excellent outcome, then. And a good start to 2013, I suspect. [i'm a sucker for happy endings! } Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
congobrown Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Owain, I am interested to see that the 25th Anniversary of Liberation Medal is on a yellow ribband. I had previously only seen it on a red and white ribband and then last week I bought one in Addis in what I believe to be its original box of issue (no maker's name) with the same yellow ribband as in your photo. Thoughts? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oamotme Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 Tim, Good question - in the group the ribbon is not of a standard manufacture - a much lighter material. Such medals for sale from dealers have the red and white ribbon. I also believe there are two types of this medal - in silver and also a silvered base metal, but cannot confirm. Of course if the medals were court mounted in Addis it may be that the military tailor did not have the correct ribbon! Owain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
congobrown Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Owain, That sounds like exactly the same ribbon as the one that I have on my copy. Very light material and with a slightly watered effect making the yellow a bit darker in the middle than at the sides. Mine seems like a good silver version. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oamotme Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Gentlemen, Some eight years on - retired to UK a year ago and now in lockdown. What to do? Ferret through my Ethiopia drawer and at long last complete the group. Enjoy, Owain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulsterman Posted September 6, 2020 Share Posted September 6, 2020 (edited) Excellent! I seem to recall the Dutch award is gazetted upon issue. If so, it would narrow the recipient pool. Also I think the Danes keep records of awards as well. After you get a name, try Pankhurst in Addis.. He knows a lot of biographies. Edited September 6, 2020 by Ulsterman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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