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    Just returned from 2.5 weeks of travelling in the former Soviet Socialist Republic of Turkmenistan.

    Picked up a book their containing pictures + background info on all post-Soviet Turkmenistan awards (i.e. all from the Saparmurat Niyazov "dictatorship" era). If anyone is interested, let me know and I can provide info.

    Unfortunately, not a lot of awards to be found in Turkmenistan itself. Did visit some museums which contained awards from, for instance, Heros of Soviet Union... but generally reminders of the Soviet era have been wiped away in the country. Even at the big Tolkuchke bazaar outside Ashgabat I was rather disappointed... mainly low end motherhood medals to be found :(

    Hopefully more luck when I travel to Moscow and subsequently Caucasus in several months.

    Kind regards,

    Bob

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    Guest Rick Research

    :Cat-Scratch: I assume the book is IN Turkmen, which will be as "interesting" trying to figure out as Mongolian!

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    :Cat-Scratch: I assume the book is IN Turkmen, which will be as "interesting" trying to figure out as Mongolian!

    The book is in Turkmen WITH English translation fortunately:)

    It's nice to see that all medals have the president (or his mother) depicted on it:)

    Apart from one, the new highest medal (instituted after publication of the book) which I saw in the National Museum. If I recall correctly it's the Order of Rukhnama. Rukhnama is a book written by the president. An important book which every Turkmen must have and you must do an exam in the book in order to proceed in your education. To quote the president: "The Koran is Allah's book, but Rukhnama is a holy book". :P

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    I seem to vaguely recall that the Turkmenbashi changed the names of the days and months to his names and those of his family. As in, "I'll be back on Fred, the 15th of Johnny." Also, that he had built the largest gold statue in the world. Does that sound close to correct?

    I know that he wears a large black diamond ring. A friend of mine gave it to him. I have occasionally run with some darn big dogs for an old country boy from Oregon. Go figure.

    I'm outa here in, let's see, make it 9-1/2 hours.

    Chuck

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    I seem to vaguely recall that the Turkmenbashi changed the names of the days and months to his names and those of his family. As in, "I'll be back on Fred, the 15th of Johnny." Also, that he had built the largest gold statue in the world. Does that sound close to correct?

    I know that he wears a large black diamond ring. A friend of mine gave it to him. I have occasionally run with some darn big dogs for an old country boy from Oregon. Go figure.

    I'm outa here in, let's see, make it 9-1/2 hours.

    Chuck

    Don't know if statue is the largest... but indeed, there's statues / posters of him EVERYWHERE and the statues are all gold colored. In the main city Ashgabat there is a large gold statue on top of a building in the center of the city. The statue turns around automatically to ensure that Turkmenbashy is always facing the sun :)

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    Guest Rick Research

    "The statue turns around automatically to ensure that Turkmenbashy is always facing the sun"

    That's scary!

    What do they do at night? Or when it rains? Or....

    :speechless1::speechless1::speechless1::speechless1:

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    :Cat-Scratch: I assume the book is IN Turkmen, which will be as "interesting" trying to figure out as Mongolian!

    Turkmen is a Turkic language, and belongs to the same group as Tatar. Thus, unlike the eastern Turkic languages like Kazakh and Uzbek, Turkmen is not radically different from Turkish. Most of the base vocabulary is the same or close, e.g.:

    one - bir in both languages

    two - iki in both languages

    three - ?? in both languages

    four - d?rt in both languages

    five - b?ş in Turkmen, beş in Turkish

    six - alty in Turkmen, altı in Turkish

    seven - ?edi in Turkmen, yedi in Turkish

    eight - sekiz in both languages

    nine - dokuz in both languages

    ten - on in both languages

    year - ?yl in Turkmen, yıl or sene in Turkish

    month - a? in Turkmen, ay in Turkish

    day - g?n in both languages

    Military vocabulary, however, is mostly not of Turkic origin, but is made up heavily of Russian loanwords, e.g.:

    general - general

    colonel - polkownik

    major - ma?or

    captain - kapitan

    lieutenant - le?tenant

    sergeant - ser?ant or serzhant

    corporal - kapral (ki?i komandir is also used, meaning "junior commander")

    private - r?adowo? (from Russian рядовой)

    soldier - esger (cf. Turkish asker) or soldat

    division - divisi?a

    brigade - brigada

    regiment - polk

    company - kampani?a or rota

    platoon - wzwod (from Russian взвод)

    Some are a mix:

    medal - medal or nyşan

    badge - nyşan

    award - ba?rak (bayrak in modern Turkish means flag or standard)

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    Yeah, I know, off topic ... but

    I know I've got a silver Honored Railwayman example around here somewhere, but I can't seem to put my finger on it right now. I saw one for sale in Tbilisi the other day for -- are you sitting down? -- $200 firm. I passed.

    Meanwhile, here's a modest NKPC-MPC documented set. This is one of the very few documented sets that I have ever come across. It's even more interesting, to me at least, that it spans the Narkomat-Ministry time periods. This guy liked the nickle-plated look, I guess. I once thought I'd collect the Soviet RR theme, but then I guess I lost interest in it, at least to the extent that it came behind my other interests. I know that it's a pretty popular and interesting theme to study and collect. I even have an enamel Soviet RR sign on one of my desks here.

    Say, do we not have a RR badges thread around here somewhere? If not, we should.

    Will it put us back on-topic if I write "Turkmenistan" somewhere? Just thought I'd ask. I apologize for stepping on the topic here.

    Chuck

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    Off topic is good...I always view threads as twists any way....

    200 US for a silver variation....they are going for 1500 + on Russian sites...

    http://www.mirnagrad.ru/cgi-bin/catalogue....asket=348238702

    Check out that

    * * * * *

    1500 y.e. ... is that dollars??!! Euros??!! If it is, I can still get that example in Tbilisi if I want it. I just never thought I would. Dang, I never thought things would go so high. Good if you're selling, horrible if you're buying. Guess I'll look for my example here at home a little harder now.

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    * * * * *

    1500 y.e. ... is that dollars??!! Euros??!! If it is, I can still get that example in Tbilisi if I want it. I just never thought I would. Dang, I never thought things would go so high. Good if you're selling, horrible if you're buying. Guess I'll look for my example here at home a little harder now.

    It is Dollars

    Edited by Chris S
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    Here's front of the book... all awards have Niyazov's buste on it (how humble of him!). Awards are generally not very tastefully design but taste differs I guess:)

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    • 2 years later...

    Hello! I will try to give some description of Turkmenistan award system.

    HERO OF TURKMENISTAN / T?RKMENISTANYN GAHRYMANY

    MEDAL "GOLDEN CRESCENT" / "ALTYN AY" MEDALY

    Instituted in 1999. This is highest state award.

    On the reverse inscription ?Altyn Ay? Turkmenistanyn Medaly? and number.

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    Order ?The First President of Turkmenistan Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi? / ?Turkmenistanyn Ilkinji Prezidenti Beyik Saparmyrat Turkmenbasy? Ordeni

    Awarded for merits only to superior functionarities of foreign countries.

    Made of 750 gold. In the centre of badge is green map of Turkmenistan, head of Niyazov and Monument of Independence. Around inscription ?TURKMENISTANYN ILKINJI PREZIDENTI BEYIK SAPARMYRAT TURKMENBASY? ORDENI?.

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    Order "President's Star" / "Prezidentin Yyldyzy" Ordeni

    Awarded for outstanding merits.

    Badge made of gold, bar made of silver gilt. On the reverse inscription ?Turkmenistanyn ?Prezidentin Yyldyzy? ordeni?.

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