hunyadi

Another boring weekend of finds

I'm not sure - but I think it was a simple way of showing that they were a part of the 'police', but at the same time 'interested in "your" security from fascist forces and capitalist imperials.' While the police wore a dark blue uniform the AVH wore the same 'camp brown' color, cut and fit of the Hungarian Military.

It was a thing of beauty to hold for such a brief time... but it has a good home now. I must say that though its a small little item - it has a air of craftsmanship that would be hard to duplicate today.

for comparison you can see Rick's police cap badge http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=19622

Here is a nice little ditty that I picked up recently - too bd the prong is missing from the back. This is a small cap badge meant to be worn on the overseas type cap - which would date it from 1950/51 to 1956. What separated the AVH (secret police) from the regular police is that the AVH used a cap badge without crossed rifles below the massive star

Well all - here is what I learned from a trusted source when I discussed this particular style medal with him. Its a cast medal for certain, and I was a little suspicious about the medal as the originals were like almost every form of award that the HUPR churned out - they were die struck, not cast. The original SCW commemorative medals were commisioned in 1956 on the 20th annaversary of the conflict. In order to recieve the medal the individual had to apply for one and be confimrmed of thier service. Only 174 were approved in this manner. The State Mint then went and apparently struck 174 examples and then as the rumor has it - the dies were destroyed (Why would you need to make more? was the apparent train of thought) Originals were struck of 987 fine silver. So - with the recipient getting one example, the SCW association apparently hired a private jewler to then make available copes that could be 'lost' and 'worn' with out mcuh fear. They apparently used a lost wax process with a bronze base and heavy silver plating. My source said that he had seen these examples of cast ones before and that they are generaly accepted as 'wearers copies'. He also shared that they were made in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Considering that there were 174 original recipients and then that probably not all recipients went and had a wearers copy made - its probably even more rare in quantity that the originals.

My Humble collection of two variants

Kevin - Dont know much about OPFOR uniforms in US war games - pretty much all I have hear of is the red vs blue arm bands. The ribbon bar is nothing like a US one. About the only thing I see that is US is the oak leaves of a Major. I would say 'theatre frankenstein' - but that is just my opinion

and my biggest fear was that they were 'yawners'....thanks for the clarifications.

yep - its probably the 1873 medal and something else -

Many Many thanks - is this box a 'typical' type - or are boxes for Soviet items just hardly ever seen?

yes that is more plausable when you compare it to what is probably a red/white ribbon...

It was my understanding that the 1873 war medal was on a yellow and black ribbon similar in design to the war ribbon - that second one looks clearly like a solid red ribbon to me?

Bottom of the case and another shot with the medal in place

Possibly for treating wounded soldeirs. There were a number of doctors who were pressed into service during the battles of Hungary. My other assumption is that these may have been partisan awards, for those POW's who were trained at the 10 Hungarian camps and then sent to fight the Germans and alos trying to get Hungarians to desert - however most of these individuals got their awards shortly after the war where due. The other possiblilty is that these men were part of the 'Voros Hadsereg' (Red Army - Hungarian) That was formed in Debrecen in December 1944. However there were only a handful of troops who actualy engaged in combat - small actions of cleaning up small pockets of resisitance. Anyhow - here are photos of the case.

My "guess" is 2) Jubilee Medal - 1898 3) Bosnia - Herzegovina Medal (1315 awarded!!!) but its hard for me to tell from the scans...

I know - it may be shocking to some - but I finaly got a lettered award...

Here are some new items that I picked up today. Any opinions apreaciated. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1949...mp;#entry187081

I am making the assumption that this is the reason for the award?

Award book

Next was a very nice item - a Medal for Valor, in the case with the award book.

Sadly the medal is not a numbered one - so it could be a put together set - but the award book is what I was more interested in.

award page with the stamp and number

First page of the award book

Well at the local coin show today a favorite dealer of mine produced some amazing items (I hope ). First off is the Order of Combat Service, with the award book. Awarded to Agyik Joszef in 1967 Oktober (?) 30th. I can only guess that this is a ceatch up award. I value your opininons on all of it. (IE origianl or a 'made up' one)