A rare pre-Revolution group of three silver medals, comprising the Long Service Medal with two chevrons (one further chevron missing), the Armed Forces Merit Medal and the National Reconciliation Medal with silver star, mounted on a bar surmounted by a rectangular plaque inscribed ‘Libertad’ (Liberty) supporting a rayed rising sun with a Phrygian bonnet imposed, an outstretched wing to either side. *** THE LONG SERVICE MEDAL. Circular silver medal with laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with the head and shoulders of a female figure representative of Cuba wearing armour and a plumed helmet; the reverse with the arms of Cuba surmounted by a Phrygian bonnet bearing a five-pointed star within a wreath of oak and laurel, circumscribed ‘PATRIA HONOR DEBER (Country, Honour, Duty); on original ribbon with two silver chevrons and the trace of a third, now absent. *** THE ARMED FORCES MERIT MEDAL. Circular silver medal with laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with a trophy of arms consisting of a crossed cannon and rifle imposed on a naval anchor and a cutlass, a castle and a standard, an early biplane above, inscribed ‘CUBA’ below; the reverse dated ‘4 SEPT. 1933’ within a wreath of oak and laurel, a radiant five-pointed star above; on original ribbon in the colours of the ‘Flag of 4 September 1933’. On 4 September 1933 the dictatorship of General Gerardo Machado y Morales (1871-1939) was toppled in what was termed ‘the Sergeants’ Revolt’ led by Sergeant (later General and President) Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar (1901-1973) supported by a popular uprising and agents of the U.S.A.. Batista was famously overthrown by Fidel Castro in 1959. The medal was awarded to the armed forces after the coup in 1933. *** THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION MEDAL. Circular silver medal with laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with a military and a civilian arm laterally, shaking hands, the radiant upper half of the Armed Forces Merit Medal above, circumscribed ‘4 SEPT de 1933’, a fasces on a laurel wreath below circumscribed ‘PATRIA ORDEN JUSTICIA’ (Country, Order, Justice); the reverse with a five-pointed star imposed on a rayed hexagon with concave sides, circumscribed ‘A LA PERPETUIDAD DEL 4 de SEPTIEMBRE’ (To the perpetuation of 4 September); on original ribbon in the colours of the ‘Flag of 4 September 1933’ with an eight-pointed silver star. For the significance of the date, please see the description of the Armed Forces Merit Medal above. The medal was awarded after the coup in 1933. ***A rare and exceptional group, probably from the mid-1930s.
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