© Numismatic Museum / Ahli Bank


Name of Object:

Ma’an honorary medal

Location:

Amman, Jordan

Holding Institution:

Numismatic Museum (Ahli Bank)

 About Numismatic Museum (Ahli Bank), Amman

Date of Object:

1918

Inventory Number:

NA

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Silver and brass

Dimensions:

Length 4.5 cm, wisth 3.3 cm, weight 16.5 gr

Provenance:

Jordan

Description:

A medal commemorating the victory of Arab armies over Ottoman forces in 1337/1918 and commemorating the leaders and the martyrs. On April 22nd, 1918 / AH Rajab 5th, 1337, Ma’an was captured by Arab forces after a decisive battle in which the Ottoman forces were defeated. King Hussein b. Ali created a medal bearing the name Ma’an medal, while the Arab revolts documents named it the Ma’an war memorial medal. On 11 August, 1919 when king Faisal became king of Syria, he issued a special law regarding the Ma’an medal, published in the official journal of the Faisal Government of Damascus, 13th November 1919; this law dictates seven articles. The medal formed two silver ears and two silver crossed swords surmounted by brass star. In other words, there is an equilateral triangle over each other and a ring on top. The two ears symbolize welfare and bestowal while the two swords are Arab Islamic Symbols of power and domination. In addition to that, the hexagonal star and Islamic Symbol appeared on Ayyubid and Mamluk Coins. The upper triangle tended upwards, the lower tended downwards, the word Ma’an is inscribed on the upper triangle in simple naskhi script and the date in A.H ١٣٣٧ is below. Historical novels indicate that the medal was made in France. The medal was given to 343 persons from the Arab World who were deemed worthy.

Citation of this web page:

Aida Naghawi "Ma’an honorary medal" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;jo;71;en

Prepared by: Aida Naghawi
Copyedited by: Daniel de la VegaDaniel de la Vega

Daniel de la Vega is a copy editor based in Portland, Oregon. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2014 and has since done editing and localization work on everything from college applications to magazines to video game dialogue.

MWNF Working Number: JO 071

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