MEDALS OF NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION

The Medals of National Construction, sometimes translated as Medals of National Edification, are a set of six medals established on May 21, 1964, for contributions of funds or services in regard to the construction of major projects desired by Sihanouk and the government. Presumably many of these medals went to the richer Cambodian and Chinese merchants who were dunned for their money.

There are several die varities of these medals - if anyone has other die varities, please let me know (or any information about French made examples).

There appear to various ribbon sizes - if anyone has other ribbons sized, please let me know. Also, if anyone has sources for ribbon, I'd be interested in aquiring any.

Some of the medals have maker marks on the reverse - if anyone has other examples, or information on these marks, please let me know.

I'm always interested in obtaining other die varities or miniatures.

 

CM31 MEDAL OF NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NATIONAL OLYMPIC STADIUM
  established May 21, 1964
  For: contributions of funds or services for the construction of the National Olympic Stadium
  Design: round breast badge, bronze gilt, 40mm across, with suspension ribbon
    Obverse: stadium track with grandstands circling around and main stands above and behind, with five Olympic rings above and Cambodian inscription below "Aid to the National Olympic Stadium";
    Reverse: plain
  Ribbon: 39mm; light green 4mm, bright mauve 8mm, light blue 15mm, bright mauve 8mm, light green 4mm; The ribbon can either be well made French ribbon or a locally made coarse cloth. (Another example ribbon is 33mm; 4mm, 6.5mm, 12mm, 6.5mm, 4mm)
  Device: on service bar and perhaps at times the suspension ribbon, five gold Olympic rings

This award was for the construction of access roads to the National Olympic Stadium which is still in use in Phnom Penh. It was also used in 1966 for the First GANEFO d'Asie Games and in April 1975 by the Khmer Rouge to incarcerate prisoners before their execution.

Examples of this award are relatively common, but usually without the ribbon.

Medal of N'tl Const - National Olympic Staduim
CM31 Medal of N'tl Const - National Olympic Stadium
Medal of N'tl Const - National Olympic Staduim
CM31 Medal of N'tl Const - National Olympic Stadium

There are several different die varities (If anyone has other die examples, or if anyone is aware of French made examples, please let me know.):

National Stadium Type 1
CM31 Die 1 (40mm)
National Stadium Type 2
CM31 Die 2 (41mm)
 
National Stadium Type 3
CM31 Die 3 (42mm)
National Stadium Type 4
CM31 Die 4 (41mm)
National Stadium Type 5
CM31 Die 5 (40mm)

 

CM32 MEDAL OF NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PREAH MONIVONG BRIDGE
  established May 21, 1964
  For: contributions of funds or services for the reconstruction of the Preah Monivong Bridge in Phnom Penh
  Design: round breast badge, bronze gilt, 40mm across, with suspension ribbon
    Obverse: bridge above waves, with Cambodian inscription "Preah Monivong Bridge" above and below, and with scalloped design around edge;
    Reverse: plain
  Ribbon: 40mm; deep reddish lilac 7mm, blue 5½mm, red 15mm, blue 5½mm, deep reddish lilac 7mm (another example ribbon is 36mm; 6mm, 5mm, 14mm, 5mm, 6mm)
  Device: on service bar and perhaps the suspension ribbon, in gold two spans of a suspension bridge

The medal, usually without a ribbon, is relatively common.

Medal of N'tl Const - Preah Monivong Bridge
CM32 Medal of N'tl Const - Preah Monivong Bridge
Medal of N'tl Const - Preah Monivong Bridge
CM32 Medal of N'tl Const - Preah Monivong Bridge

There are several different die varitiess (If anyone has other die examples, or if anyone is aware of French made examples, please let me know.):

National Stadium Type 1
CM32 Die 1 (40mm)
National Stadium Type 2
CM32 Die 2 (40mm)
National Stadium Type 3
CM32 Die 3 (40mm)
National Stadium Type 4
CM32 Die 4 (40mm)
   

 

CM33 MEDAL OF NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FOR SIHANOUKVILLE PORT
  established May 21, 1964
  For: contributions of funds or services for the construction of Sihanoukville Port
  Design: round breast badge, bronze gilt, 35mm across, with suspension ribbon
    Obverse: mermaid wearing Khmer crown going to left and holding three lotus buds;
    Reverse: plain
  Ribbon: light blue with horizontal wavy blue stripes 3mm apart
  Device: on service bar, round silver disk with a stylized fish and waves

The medal without the ribbon is relatively common.

Medal of N'tl Const - Sihanoukville Port
CM33 Medal of N'tl Const - Sihanoukville Port
(correct ribbon)
Medal of N'tl Const - Sihanoukville Port
CM33 Medal of N'tl Const - Sihanoukville Port
(re-constructed ribbon)

At least four different die varieties are known, the one with the most difference having the mermaid with a more crooked arm and the three lotus buds drooping instead of upright.

Sihanoukville Port Type 1
CM33 Die 1 (35mm)
Sihanoukville Port Type 2
CM33 Die 2 (35mm)
Sihanoukville Port Type 3
CM33 Die 3 - Upright Stems
  Sihanoukville Port Type 2 Rev
CM33 Die 2 Reverse Marking
 
  Sihanoukville Port Type 2 Rev
CM33 Die 2 Another Reverse Marking
 

 

CM34 MEDAL OF NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PHNOMPENH - SIHANOUKVILLE RAILROAD
  established May 21, 1964
  For: contribution of funds or services for the construction of the railroad between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville
  Design: round breast badge, bronze gilt, 34mm across, with suspension ribbon
    Obverse: smoking locomotive and train in head on view, with scalloped design around edge;
    Reverse: plain
  Ribbon: 36mm; dark brown 10½mm, light blue 4½mm, bright mauve 6mm, light blue 4½mm, dark brown 10½mm
  Device: on service bar, gold locomotive and car

The medal without the ribbon is relatively common.

Railroad
CM34 Medal of N'tl Const - Railroad (Sylvester coll.)

Only one die is known for this medal.

Railroad
CM34 Medal of N'tl Const - Railroad (34mm)

 

CM35 MEDAL OF NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FOR HYDROELECTRIC DAMS
  established May 21, 1964
  For: contributions of funds or services for the construction of hydroelectric dams
  Design: round breast badge, bronze gilt, 34mm across, with suspension ribbon
    Obverse: and hydroelectric facility, with scalloped design around edge;
    Reverse: plain
  Ribbon: 35mm: light blue 4mm, light yellow green 5mm, yellow 7mm, dark green 3mm, yellow 7mm, light yellow green 5mm, light blue 4mm

This is the least common of this six piece series of medals, and sometimes seen in bronze, which may just represent examples that were not finished.

Dam
CM35 Medal of N'tl Const - Hydroelectric Dam (Sylvester coll.)

Medal of N'tl Const - Dam Gold
CM35 Medal of N'tl Const - Hydroelectric Dam Gold (gilt)
Medal of N'tl Const - Dam Bronze
CM35 Medal of N'tl Const - Hydroelectric Dam Bronze

Dam Mini
CM35 Medal of N'tl Const - Hydroelectric Dam Miniature

MNC Dam 1
CM35 Gold (gilt) (34mm)
MNC Dam 2
CM35 Bronze (34mm)
MNC Dam 3
CM35 Miniature (21mm)
MNC Dam 1 Rev
CM35 Gold (gilt) Reverse Marking
MNC Dam 2 Rev
CM35 Bronze Reverse Marking
MNC Dam 3
CM35 Miniature Reverse Marking

These examples are stamped on the reverse with “N”.  (Does anyone know the significance ? Does anyone have another stampings or blank examples ?)

 

CM36 MEDAL OF NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION FOR PALACES
  established May 21, 1964
  For: contributions of funds and services for the construction of State residences and reception palaces, and possibly temples and schools
  Design: elliptical breast badge, bronze gilt, 40mm across, with suspension ribbon
    Obverse: Cambodian palace enclosed in wreath;
    Reverse: plain
  Ribbon: light blue with on each side three pink berries and a continuing green V’ed line representing the stems.

It is less common than most of this series of medals, and sometimes seen in bronze, which may just represent examples that were not finished.

Only one die is known for this relatively crude piece.

MCN Palaces
CM36 Medal of N'tl Const - Palaces (Sylvester coll.)

MCN Palaces
CM36 Medal of N'tl Const - Palaces
MCN Palaces
CM36 Medal of N'tl Const - Palaces