Persia, Empire. A Military Order of Zolfaghar, 3rd Class Breast Badge c.1925 by Arthus Bertrand

An impressive and attractive award that stands as the highest order in the empire; Of French manufacture with hallmark on ring ""AB&C""for Arthus Bertrand, of high quality in silver gilt with red and white enamels, obverse centrepiece illustrating an enamelled portrait of Imam Ali, measuring 46.5 mm (w) x 46.5 mm (h), original period ribbon, extremely fine and of high rarity.

Footnote: The Order of Zolfaghar was the second oldest and the highest honour of the Empire of Iran. It was established in 1856 as the Decoration of the Commander of the Faithful by Emperor Naser al-Din Shah, until 1925, where it was renamed as the Order of Zolfaghar by Emperor Reza Shah I. As the Order was the highest within the ""honours system"", the Order was limited to the sovereign and individuals who performed the greatest acts of patriotism to Iran, until 1979, where it was abolished by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic erasing all symbols within culture and society from the monarchy. The order was a military order of Imperial Persia and Iran named after Zulfiqar, ""Spine-cleaver"", the famous sword of the Caliph Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Founded as the ""Portrait of the Commander of Faithful"" by Naser al-Din Shah Qajar in 1856, to commemorate the recapture of Herat. Reza Shah, the penultimate Shah of Iran, renamed it the ""Order of Zolfaghar"" in 1925 and made it an exclusively military order, awarded in three classes. 

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.