PRE WW1 TUNIS ORDER OF NISHAN AL IFTIKHAR MOHAMMED III KNIGHT GRADE MEDAL AWARD

Description

45mm high ten-pointed silver star, alternate arms enamelled red and green, with chiselled rays between the arms, with three-looped silver bow suspension; the face with a circular central green enamel medallion bearing the name of Muhammad III as-Sadiq in silver Arabic characters within a faceted silver border; the reverse plain with silver hallmark and dated ‘١٢٩١’ (AH1291 = AD1874); on original ribbon. Most likely of european manufacture.

The Order, whose name means ‘The Order of Victory’, was instituted in 1837 by Ahmad I ibn Mustafa, Bey of Tunis and reformed in 1857 by his successor Muhammad II ibn al-Husayn. It was effectively the National Order of Tunis from its foundation until its suppression after independence in 1957. This example is from the reign of Muhammad III as-Sadiq (1859-1882) and is dated 1874. A superb early dated example.