Spain, Fascist State. A Medal For Ifni-Sahara, Officer, Fullsize And Miniature, C.1960

(Medalla de Ifni-Sahara con miniatura). Instituted in 1958. Type I with Swivel "Imperial" Crown (1958-1982). Fullsize: two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with red, white, light blue, dark blue, green and orange enamels, type I as indicated by the swivel "imperial" crown, measuring 30.8 mm (w) x 47.2 mm (h) inclusive of its crown suspension, fine chipping evident in the dark blue enamels in the rule on the left side on the obverse, otherwise the enamels are intact, suspended from a traditional horizontal hanger with pinback, the framework of the hanger loose versus the ribbon; and Miniature: in bronze with light blue, green, white and orange enamels, measuring 12 mm (w) x 19.7 mm (h), vertical pinback. Together, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The medal was instituted on August 21, 1958, to reward officers and men serving in Spanish West Africa during the Ifni War of 1957-1958 when Moroccan rebels and Sahrawi tribesmen launched a series of armed raids, culminating in the siege of Sidi Ifni. In February 1958, a Franco-Spanish force totalling 14,000 men supported by air power broke the Saharan Liberation Army and on April 2nd, Spain and Morocco signed a peace treaty. The medal was issued with a swivel "Imperial" (Franco) crown suspension until 1982, when it was replaced with an attached royal crown.