Spain, Facist State. A Medal for Ifni-Sahara, Officer, c.1965

(Medalla de Ifni-Sahara con miniatura). Instituted in 1958.  Type I with Swivel "Imperial" Franco Crown (1958-1982)  , in bronze gilt with red, white, blue, black, green and orange enamels, type I as indicated by the swivel "imperial" Franco crown, measuring 32 mm (w) x 51.5 mm (h) inclusive of its Franco crown suspension, intact enamels, original ribbon, suspended from a traditional horizontal hanger with pinback, extremely fine.

Footnote: The medal was instituted on August 21, 1958, to reward officers and men serving in Spanish West Africa during the Ifni War of 1957-1958 when Moroccan rebels and Sahrawi tribesmen launched a series of armed raids, culminating in the siege of Sidi Ifni. In February 1958, a Franco-Spanish force totalling 14,000 men supported by air power broke the Saharan Liberation Army and on April 2nd, Spain and Morocco signed a peace treaty. The medal was issued with a swivel "Imperial" (Franco) crown suspension until 1982, when it was replaced with an attached royal crown.