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Miniature circular silvered metal medal on integral wire loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a lion passant guardant, facing left and carrying an unsheathed sabre in its right front paw, imposed on a radiant rising sun with a human face, within a wreath of laurel and oak; the reverse with Iranian inscription and circumscription and dated ‘۱۳۱۸’ (1318 = 1900-1901AD); diameter 18.99mm (0.75 inch); on original ribbon. The Order was founded in 1808 by Fath ‘Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty as the Royal Order of the Sun. In 1820 it was reorganised and renamed and medals were added in the late 19th Century. In 1925, the Qajar Dynasty was replaced by the Pahlavis but the Order continued as the Order of Homayoun with redesigned insignia. The Lion and Sun motif comes from antiquity and was used for centuries by Mogul and Qajar rulers, including Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, being formally adopted by Persia (Iran) under Mohammad Shah (reigned 1834 to 1848). This example is of Military division (nishan-i-shuja’at) since the lion is standing and holds a sabre (for civil awards, the lion is recumbent and without sword). The Medal is rare in miniature.
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