Circular silver medal pierced for ribbon suspension; the face with an elaborate trophy of arms, the Sultan’s radiant tughra above; the reverse inscribed in Arabic characters ‘Medal of Merit especially for Those Who Have Shown Loyalty and Bravery’ and dated in Arabic numerals ‘١٣٠٨’ (AH1308 = AD1890); on original ribbon and wire suspension bar. The Medal was instituted in 1890 and became the standard Ottoman military decoration. It could also be awarded to civilians for merit and from 1905 to women for charitable and meritorious acts. The Medal is not often found.
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