Spain, Kingdom. An Ifni-Sahara Medal, Officer, C.1980

(Medalla de Ifni-Sáhara). Instituted in 1958; Discontinued in 2003. Two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with light blue, orange, white, red and green enamels, measuring 32 mm (w) x 57.5 mm (h) inclusive of its Juan Calrlos I crown suspension, intact enamels, original ribbon, on a traditional Spanish-style horizontal hanger with pinback, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Ifni-Sahara Medal was a Spanish decoration created by Decree of the Presidency of the Government, dated July 4, 1958, signed by Francisco Franco and Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco, and published in BOE No. 168, pages 1,263 and 1,264 , of July 15, 1958. It was due to "the satisfaction of the country and the Armies for the result of the military operations carried out in the territories of Spanish West Africa" (War of Ifni). Although concessions ceased to be made some years later, it was not until 2003 that it was formally abolished by Royal Decree 1040/2003. The insignia consisted of an oval-shaped medal made of gold metal (for generals, admirals, chiefs, officers and noncommissioned officers) or bronze (troops and sailors), surmounted by a military crown of leadership, which was replaced by a closed or modern royal crown during the reign of Juan Carlos I.