rboomsma

I have to agree, so I bought it. I now have both variations.

There was brass varitation also which is the rarer version.

Back

Just looking for opinions. I say real what say you?

Yeah, I am still looking for one of those.

It is the order of Combat Valor, I think it a little harder top get than the others.

I guess I beat you to it as the ribbon bar is one of the ones Alexei had.

Very good point, I remember Alexei a well respected dealer once mentioned the only good way to tell a Hero star is authentic (because 0f the good fakes out there). Is that it has to be examined with a very good microscope. But he would not say what you had to look for, in order to not let fakers correct the mistake. Also variation collecting is all many of have left due to the prices now. In order to improve our collection we buy the lesser cost medals. So I don't understand the negitive attiude towards collecting variations. Same with many collectors only wanting mint condition orders etc. In many other collecting hobbies such as stamps, coins, paper money, rare variations have great value. Lets face it, even though many of us collect because of the historical aspect, we still want to get our value $ out of our collection at some point.

Dave I think most of us would agree that splitting up a documented group for one medal is stupid. I have one group with one variation I was looking for. But I have kept the group together. But I got my variation too. To break apart any documented group knowing the history and what that pereson did to earn them is a crime.

I never realized there were so many different variations of the Chinese friendship medal, I wonder if I got them all now?

I have to agree with Dave to a certain point. For most of us collectors, I don't think we need to worry ourselves. But dealers that are selling very rare items may have too down the road, and those who they sold those very rare orders to. I could see that as a possiblity. But only for items taken from museums etc. Also if you are in possesion of property obtained from state museums, then they are stolen goods and the bottom line is there not yours to own. Even if you didn't know they were stolen. It is no different here. If you buy a victoria cross that some one stole from a musem, you have no right to it.

Tha back side

my chinese friendship medals I have 5 variations of this one.

the backs 5 variations for type 2

On variations, many of us collect them, I know I do. I can't afford the the several thousand dollar orders. Here is just a few of my examples:

Ebay seems to have almost nothing now for Mongolian orders and medals. The orders I was selling for someone else only sold if they were undamaged in any way. Any item that had a little damage didn't sell. The ordinary medals and badges had little to no interest. Prices were also down.

It may be that someone changed it to match a document that was later lost??? I guess we will never know for sure.

I doubt who bought it knows the serial was changed, as it affects the price greatley. It also has a fairly high serial for that variation.

I don't like it. It is some sort of reproduction I feel. There was no OPW ever made with that kind of clasp.

Yes here is the front

Just sold on ebay for $274. But look below the serial number, is that not an area that has been rubbed out?

Yes it is, but the ribbon is not original. I just did it up they way I found it was worn from other photos.

I'm jealous did you get that from Alexei?

The first one I saw sold on ebay for $800 if memory serves me. They have since dropped to $200 and can't sell.

AS of today, I have now run out of room for my soviet stuff:( Note nothing is the same all different variations.