• Seller GTD

  

  Order of the Badge of Honor, Type 1 Variation 2, #350, circa 1936. (Lot: 544)

  Silver gilt, enamels. Measures 38.6 mm in height, 27.9 mm in width; weights 22.4 g without the screw plate. Riveted multi-piece construction (each letter in the “CCCP” is attached by copper pins). The serial number is engraved in very large numerals, in the manner characteristic of the Type 1 Var. 2.

  In excellent condition, nearly unheard of for the “Small” Type 1 Badge of Honor. The enamel in particular is exceptionally well-preserved: it is completely free of any wear visible to the naked eye, shows a magnificent luster, and has only a few microscopic contact marks and flakes that are invisible without magnification. The letters “CCCP” are original, have much of their original gilt still present, and are tightly attached by the original pins. The raised details of the male and female workers are nicely preserved and crisp, nearly pristine.

  The reverse is likewise practically pristine, exhibiting a beautiful patina to silver. The screw post is well over 11 mm long, and has not been shortened. Included is the original 17.6 mm wide silver screw plate with Mondvor logo, weighing 2.0 g, a unique type used only on the Type 1 “Small” Badge of Honor.

  The order comes with a McDaniel certificate of authentication from November 1999 that gives it a practically unprecedented 9 out of 10 condition rating. Based on our own experience, we agree that this superb and rare piece is nearly impossible to upgrade condition-wise.

  The “Small” version of the Badge of Honor is among the rarest Soviet awards: only about 1500 were ever produced, and many were replaced later with the more “modern” full-size types. Another major factor contributing to its rarity is the fact that a sizable percentage of the issues were to top party officials and NKVD officers. At the time, they were prime candidates for extermination in the next wave of Stalin’s purges – which meant that their orders would have been confiscated and melted down for scrap.

  Please note, the “regular size” (Type 2) Order of the Badge of Honor in our last photo is there for size comparison and is not included with the purchase of the Type 1.

  $ 17,000 fee: 22.5%
• Seller GTD

  

  Order of the Red Banner of Labor, Type 2 with engraved “Mondvor” mint mark, #10675, circa 1942. (Lot: 543)

  Silver gilt, enamels. Measures 45.6 mm in height, 37.2 mm in width; weighs 38.1 g without the screw plate. Manufactured soon after much of the Leningrad Mint facilities and workers evacuated to the city of Krasnokamsk and set up a new mint there. In the manner typical of the early Krasnokamsk Mint manufacture, the order was assembled from the available parts which had not been completed earlier or were salvaged from specimens that previously had not passed the quality control. Note the repaired upper rivets and the fact that the banner is slightly misaligned with the back plate

  $ 7,500 fee: 22.5%
• Seller GTD

  

  Order of the Red Banner of Labor, Type 3, Variation 1 “jumbo”, #23820, circa late 1943 – early 1944. (Lot: 542)

  Silver gilt, enamels. Measures 50.9 mm in height including the eyelet, 37.9 mm in width; weighs 38.8 g not including the suspension and connecting link. The red enamel is of characteristically light shade. Overall, an extremely attractive piece.

  This piece is among the earliest of the suspension type Orders of Red Banner of Labor, and unlike most, it was almost certainly awarded during the Patriotic War. The mint mark located near the top is slightly curved up and measures approximately 7 mm in width. This type of mint mark is found only on the Red Banners of Labor in the current

  $ 750 fee: 22.5%
• Seller GTD

  

  Order of the Badge of Honor, Type 3, Variation 2, #100960, circa 1948. (Lot: 541)

  Silver gilt, enamels; measures 50.4 mm in height (incl. eyelet), 33.0 mm in width; weighs 36.9 g not incl. the suspension and connecting link. Features riveted construction with flat reverse and very small mint mark. According to the Mondvor.narod.ru classification, this is Type 3 Var. 4 found in two serial number ranges, 96730 – 126557 and 185869 – 187509.

  Excellent condition. The enamel and details are perfect. Pale spot at the top of the reverse is apparently due to an old sticker that covered that area, sure to blend in eventually as silver patina takes over. Come

  $ 250 fee: 22.5%

Sold at Blitz price