Circular bronze medal with laterally pierced cylindrical eyelet for suspension; the face with a female head representing the Portuguese Republic encircled by the inscription ‘REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA’; the reverse inscribed ‘PATRIA DEVER DEDICAÇÃO HUMANIDADE ALTRUISMO 1926’ (Country, Loyalty, Dedication, Humanity, Altruism, 1926) encircled by a wreath of oak and circumscribed SEGURANÇA PUBLICA (Public Security) ASSIDUIDADE (Assiduity); on original ribbon. This medal was awarded to members of the Portuguese armed forces following the military coup d'état of 1926. Between 1910 and 1926 Portugal had no fewer than forty-five governments. Worsening economic conditions, widespread strikes, political chaos and the legacy of suffering terrible casualties in the Great War led to a crisis in 1926 and on 28 May the army acted to install an authoritarian regime. This Second Republic become the Estado Novo in 1933, led by António de Oliveira Salazar who ruled until deposed in 1974.
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