Hello!
Within several years I have interest to the French awards. In my opinion, the French awards are very interesting and various.
In my country there are no good web-resources on this theme. My unique information source is a website "France Phaleristique". I'm much grateful to its author.
In process of my modest possibilities I make translations by means of the computer and I add a photo from my collection for my Russian colleagues.
But I have not found all answers to my questions.
The further searches have resulted me on FIM. I am very glad to it.
Now I read slowly themes in the French section . My thanks to members of forum for interesting information and photos.

I have not found the information on quantities of rewardings (Le contingent semestriel attribué aux différents grades)
of "Ordre du Mérite Sportif", "Ordre du Mérite Militaire", "Ordre du Mérite Civil".
Whether there is such information?

One more question: what is it - "Journal Officiel"?

Good-bye to all.
Victor.

Hi Victor

The "Journal Officiel" is the French counterpart of the "London Gazette" where laws, decrees and nominations are published.
The ministerial medals lists were not published in the "Journal Officiel", but in sub publications, either from the ministry in charge, or in the "bulletin officiel des décorations, médailles et récompenses".

All these files documents are available in "La documentation française" in Paris, but are unfortunately not published on line so far...

Regards
Bison

Good evening.
Thanks, Bizon.
I have still a question:
What period of time this Merite Agricole?
And why its ribbon such light? It has not become colourless, but such all.
(I have a Legion d'Honour with the same colourless ribbon)

Best regards,

Good evening, Victor,

I suppose our friend Bison won't be disappointed if I try to answer.

Concerning the period: the medal was created in 1883, modified in 1900 (the commander degree was added).
The medal is more or less the same since this time. The hallmark (if there is one) could be a good means to determinate the period, especially for well known makers.

Concerning the ribbon: the colour is the same on both sides, so the sun is not guilty ! The "rosette" (how should I translate this ???) is ALWAYS made with silk (information from Contoutos). In this case, it seems that no one paid attention to the difference of colours when putting the rosette on the ribbon.

Best regards

Olivier

Hi!
Thanks for answer.
I understand "rosette", we call it "rozetka".
My Merite Agricole has one hallmark, but it illegibly:

I wish to know more exact its age if it probably. If I not find other hallmarks, whether it means it's not silver?

This hallmark placed on mini of Merite Agricole:

Will you tell me a manufacturer name?
And here is the one:


I wish a nice sunday to all,

Dear Victor

The head of a boar on the reduction of the "Mérite agricole" is the mark for silver from 1838 until 1961

Guy

dear victor

after that date you have a "crabbe" and now the head of Minerva
more about marks, see : http://www.forum-insignes-medailles.net/poincons-marquages-et-fabricants-f42/repertoire-de-poincons-de-fabricants-t8368.htm?highlight=poincons

Guy

Dear, g_deploige,
Thank you so much for link, it's very usefull for me.
Victor

Hello Victor,

Nice orders, your mini Mérite Agricole is a high quality one, apparently the center of the averse in in 2 pieces. Could you give us the size please ?

On your officer star, the manufacturer hallmark could be part of a square, meaning that the medal is in gilded bronze (lozenge for silver).

I guess it's not easy to find french order in Russia, do you find yours on Internet ?

Re:
Yes, center in 2 pieces, the size from edge to edge of beams is 15,6 mm.
The French awards in Russia happen, but it's more rare than in France
Yes, all of my purchases I made on INet. For example, both of Merite Agricole I have bought from Israel.

Hi

I come back to the number of ministerial orders awarded. We know approximatively the maximum number of medals allowed per year or semester.
However, the real number of awards could vary... under the fixed rate. That is why it is necessary to refer to official documents files. This is a real work for Benedictine monks!

In fact, this will not really inform you about the scarcity of the medals because many manufacturers were allowed to sell them and sometimes still sell them from their stocks.

From my perspective, the most scarce ministerial order is the Mérite du travail, with only one manufacturer known (Arthus Bertrand) and only one promotion...
All others are more or less easy to find. May be the latest orders, Mérite civil du ministère de l'intérieur and Mérite Saharien, are a little bit rarer... because they were made by la Monnaie de Paris only, and we know the stock does not exist anymore.

Regards
Bison

Good evening,
Yes, I wish to know quantity of awards to define its rarity (fortunately, I have got the officer of Merite Civil ).
About sales of stocks in France I have found out only here.
But why ordre des arts et des lettres costs so much? It not much rare being based on number of rewardings

And thanks to Bizon for different helpful information.

Regards,

Hi
Hi Victor

The price of an order des Arts et des Lettres is also a mystery for us...
You can find it (and order on line) on at least two French websites :
165€ (with VAT): http://www.arthus-bertrand.com/fr/e-magasin/decorations/ordres_nationaux/arts_et_lettres/2030010300/ordonnance_chevalier.html
140,96€ (export price): http://boutique.monnaiedeparis.fr/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/Monnaie-Front-Site/fr_FR/-/EUR/ViewStandardCatalog-Browse?CatalogCategoryID=ZADZEzvy3AsAAAEkQegMnPap

And sometimes, on the auction sites, they are sold far over!
A mystery...

Regards
Bison

Hello!
If there is not "1" near "corn", is it not silver?

Best regards,
Victor.

Hi, again.
Please, what is written here in French, I can not disassemble all words.

Thank you,
Victor.

Hello victor2

It seems to read : Médaille de la Somme à Thomas Adrien. i.e.: Commemorative medal for the Somme to Thomas Adrien.

This commemorative medal is unofficial. It could be "awarded" to all members of units which fought in that area in both World Wars. Therefore, not really a ministerial order.

Regards
Veteran

Hello

victor2 a écrit:

Hello! If there is not "1" near "corn", is it not silver?

1, 2 or 3 are for the quality of the metal (silver or gold) and are not always on the medals. Maybe there is a small "A" on the corn itself for "Argent" (silver). Paris Mint orders are in silver (except sport and toutistic orders who are in bronze for the knight class).

Seems to be a nice Order of Social Merit.

Thanks, FX.
Thanks, Bison.
I didn't know that. I have looked better and I have seen small "A" on the cornucopia.

Best regards,

This hallmark placed on Officier of "Merite Artisanal". Is it possible to define manufacturer?

Best regards,

Hello !
I saw "Merite Artisanal" with a cut between a cross and beams of light and without it.
Will you tell me, what manufacturers are peculiar for these differences?
Best regards,
Victor.

Hello Victor

What do you mean by "a cut"?
I suppose you are speaking about hallmarks?

Regards
Bison

Hi!
I have not waited the answer about a hallmark and have decided to continue my questions
I have drawn "the cut"

I would like to find out - whose hallmark is on my Merite Artisanal.
Best regards,

Hello!
I am tormented by a question for a long time :
The French manufacturers make awards of different quality. Who and how choose a badge of award for the person? Why sometimes it gets from a Paris Mint, sometimes from other manufacturer?
Probably, all want the beautiful silver award, but someone gets inaccurate silvered bronze...

Best regards,
Victor.

Hello Victor,

Since 1870 in France, you have to buy the award you receive. For example the labor medal of honor is, in most case, paid by your firm. For the Legion of Honour or National Order of Merit, sometimes it's a gift from your colleagues/family... so if you have a lot of money, you can buy a nice award in silver with center in gold or if you don't want to waste your money in it, you buy a cheap one in silvered metal. Except for some awards, anyone in France can buy a medal, you can go to the paris Mint and buy (almost) everything. You only need the diploma for some medals of honor (gendarmerie, aeronautique...).

Hello!
Thanks for answer.
I am a little surprised. I thought, that the most part of awards is given free-of-charge.
The person receives the award, not purchase. What there is an award..?..
It means all awards is necessary to buy?
Is there anything awards wich government gives out free-of-charge?

Best regards,
Victor.

Hello,

Nothing is free of charge, someone has to pay ! (you, your firm, your unit if you are in the military, your colleagues/friends/family...). When you are received in the Legion of Honour or National Order of Merit you even have to pay your patent (20,28€ for a knight of the Legion of Honour) !

Good evening!
Thanks once more for answer.
It's unusual for me, in Russia orders and medals are award, naturally, free of charge, and sometimes very expensive, because are made of gold and even from platinum. It expresses honour to the person.
As I know the Legion of Honour gives pension. Is the ministerial awards give any privileges or payments?

Best regards,
Victor.

Hello,

The pension is only for the Legion of Honour and Military Medal and the amount is very small (6€ by year for a knight...), nothing for the orders of merit. There are no real privileges.

I have collected soviet orders and still have an Order of Lenin in gold and platinium.

Hello!
Thanks, I learn a lot of new
Best regards,
Victor.

Hello!
This hallmark is placed on the officer of Sante Publique.

Please, help me to define its manufacturer.

Best regards,
Victor.

Bonjour,

at the moment of a free time I have decided to admire my collection of French decorations:









Have a nice weekend to all

Hello Victor ,



Thanks for sharing your very nice collection. Some friends and I do appreciate ministerial orders; I enjoy officer of the "mérite touristique", which is very rare !!
Congratulations !!

Thank you.

Hi Victor,

What a beautiful serie of french medals !! Congratulations !!

Best regards,

Hello Victor,

A very nice collection with some pieces that are not easy to find. A question, do you collect only civilian awards ?