SPANISH MEDAL FOR IFNI-SAHARA FRANCO PERIOD

(Medalla de Ifni-Sahara con miniatura). Instituted in 1958. Type I with Swivel "Imperial" Crown. In bronze gilt with red, white, light blue, dark blue, green, orange and black enamels, type I as indicated by the swivel "imperial" crown, measuring 32 mm (w) x 51.5 mm (h) inclusive of its crown suspension, intact enamels, with ribbon and suspension in extremely fine condition. 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 totaling 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.