Order of Valor (Kazakhstan)

The Order of Valor (Kazakh: Айбын ордені, trans. Order of Aybyn) is a military decoration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Order of Aybyn is conferred upon members of the armed forces, other military formations and units, as well as personnel of prosecution, national security, internal affairs and penal systems of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
 * for achievements in combat training, sustaining high combat readiness, mastering of new military equipment and maintaining law and order;
 * for valor and total dedication in line of military and service duty, as well as feats of heroism performed in protection of national interests.

History
Order of Aybyn was established by Law No. 2676 On State Awards of the Republic of Kazakhstan dd. December 12, 1995. It initially provided for 2 classes, but Law No.462-1 dd. July 26, 1999 added a higher class and made changes to order design.

Classes
Order of Valor consists of 3 classes: Orders of Aybyn Class I and II are conferred upon low-ranking and field grade officers. Class I, as the highest rank, can only be conferred upon holders of Class II.
 * Order of Aybyn, Class I;
 * Order of Aybyn, Class II;
 * Order of Aybyn, Class III.

Order of Aybyn Class III is conferred upon soldiers, seamen, sergeants, sergeant majors, warrant officers and ensigns.

Type 1 (pre-1999)
The order was made of silver in the shape of an 8-point mullet (opposite points are 45 mm apart) with a circular center adorned with a shield covering symbols of arms and word АЙБЫН (Aybyn) written against a cherry-red background in the bottom.

The order provided for 2 classes. Class I has gold plating on top of dark blue grand feu enamel; Class II has the front part made of tinted silver against the backdrop of turquoise grand feu enamel.

Suspension and suspension ring connect the order to a pentangular brass top bar. Top bar has a height of 36.5 mm, width of 38mm; upper and lower frames are wrapped with a red ribbon with yellow stripes.

Type 2 (post-1999)
Class I order is a stylized 5-point star whose rays are separated with silver protrusions and covered with red enamel and bear gold spearheads. The medal's centerpiece is a round medallion broken into three parts by a stylized triangle. A diamond is secured in the central white enamel part with АЙБЫН written below in gold letters; side parts depict gold sword grips on dark blue enamel.

Class II order is an 8-point star with dual-edged rays and a decorative ridge. A round red enamel-filled medallion in the center depicts a round shield covering two crossed sabers, a decorative ornamental element below has a blue enamel ribbon inscribed with АЙБЫН escribed into it. Medal elements not covered with enamel are gold-plated.

Class III order is similar to Class II, but its non-enameled elements are done in oxidized silver. A decorative ring connects the medal to a hexagonal top bar adorned with a red order ribbon sporting 3 blue stripes in the center.

Order coin
Kazakhstan Mint produced a commemorative coin depicting Order of Aybyn Class I in 2008.