hunyadi

Also for more clarification - prior to 1964 the medal that was awarded for "long service" was the "Meritorious Service Medal" with the explination that it was to be awarded for "promoting the merits of service" (over a period of time). It was instituted in 1953 when there was a shift in the bestowal of medals. Prior to 1953 both civilians and the military were awarded the same medals as the men in uniform willing to give their lives for the nation were to be 'equal' to those who worked in the factory 'building socialism'. But when the military was dwongraded in size in 1953 - the military it seems wanted some sort of compensation so a series of "Military Only" medlas were issued. Below is the 1957 version of the Meritorious Service Medal of which 14,259 were awarded till 1964.

Hi Gordon - In all actuality the 1964 ones are extremely rare. What you may be refering to is the fact that the 1964 medals were continued for issue up until the end - but only for civilans working in the armed forces. After 1964 the same die was used but instead of the reverse being plain there was the inscription "Honvedelemi Erdemerem". One variant that is rare and not too often seen is the 1964 issue type but with the "Honvedelemi Erdemerem" engraved into the reverse so that it could be issued after 1965. To give you a perspective - I have been looking for the 1964 series (plain reverse) for over a year now and have only found one, but it was too expensive. I have also found only about 3-4 of the engraved reverse types but again the seller (Junke Shopee) wants more for that 10 year one than I have desire for paying. Below is the post 1965 version with the inscription on the back.

Of course there were... the 1964 version of which were abandoned in 1965 for the enameled type. For 1964 there is 800, 550, 350, 200 hours. In 1965 the lot was expanded to 2000, 1500, 800, 550, 350, 200 hours. In 1983 the flyboys were given 3500, 3000, 2500, 2000, 1500, 1000, 500. (1983 also saw the creation of the Paratrooper medal with 3500, 3000, 2500, 2000, 1500, 1000, 500 jumps)

Here is a nice 1949 Hungarian Ace Worker with the miniature stick pin

the reverse - low number and early quality help to confirm my speculation that the 'szakma' series was started at "1" and then numerically awarded after that. Others seem to follow other strange patterns - probably because some were manufactued with numbers, then for a time without, then other that had the numbers cusomly applied...its all a mess with those...but not this style.

Here is a very early 'Szakma Kivalo Dolgozo' badge. Striking how the gold wash has not faded as this is probably made from Tombak.

well the upper one in that post is the bottom one in the first post... clear- now - when mated next to the IAB...you can have no question to its German manufacture...I wish the CIB was maker marked, but its not.

flip them over and there is something very interesting about that bottom one...

Sometimes I find stuff like this in an antique store. So I had to bring the thread up to the top... upper one is a pretty standard 'sterling' marked one with silver plated clutches...

Thanks for the information!

1) Unknown 2) Armed Forces Honor Medal 2nd Class 3) Armed Forces Honor Medal 1st Class

Ribbons of Air Service ???? Air Service Medal - paint on center disc has flaked off

1) Unknown 2) Technical Service Medal 2nd Class 3) Technical Service Medal 1st Class (?)

1) Naval Service Medal 2) Staff Service Medal 2nd Class 3) Staff Service Medal 3rd Class

1) Wound Medal 2) Gallantry Cross 3) Gallantry Cross

HI Ed - that is one thing I learned after looking at them the first time - with the Hungarian connection, I decided to take the plunge - still have six more posts... 1) Training Service Medal 1st Class (?) 2) Training Service Medal 2nd Class 3) Unkown

1) Army Good Conduct Medal 2) Military Service Medal 3) Psy. Warfare Medal

1) Special Serivce Medal 2) Unknown 3) Unknown Anyone help out with identifying these?

1) Army Meritorious Serivce Medal 2) RVN Galantry Cross 3) RVN Campaign Medal with a 1949-54 bar

Picked this up today because of several factors. The "story" goes - and is plausable that a member of the small (about 150) delegation of Hungarian soldiers that were sent to Vientam to supervise the cease fire and to help with the demolition of mines and unexploded devices. In the program two Hungarians lost their lives. Sadly all that I know is that the member who apparently got these medals was a captain. He brought back these RVN medals as well as some US medals of Vietnam era production. As I dont know much about these medals I am posting them - all of these fall under the 'in courntry' quality of manufacture as they are all very rough in quality, not like the US manufactured ones. So here is what I call my 'instant' collection of RVN ODMs... First off I laughed when I saw them and then found out what folks are asking for these on the net.. 1) Distinguished Service Cross Navy 1st class 2) Distinguished Service Cross Army 1st class 3) Distinguished Service Cross Army 2nd class

Well - that is the real question as it follws the pattern of the Hungarian government parts and components. (IE they came from official sources) which makes me wonder if there was a run of these made for Hungarians - or perhaps for export? Unfortunatly there is no records of such activity. Speculation at this point would be that Soviet badges were sent to Hungary and then boxes made here.

Wondering is fany one can specualte on this item in the 'valuation' secion. Many thanks in advance http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=17352

Like in Germany there was a huge market for these devices to be worn on the ribbon (for breast type badges where a medal on teh medla bar could be worn concurrently) and the ribbon bar to indicate the various gades as the ribbons broke down into Civil (green), Military Peace time (green field with red/white borders) and Military War (red field with green / white borders) - as these were the only three types of ribbons for Signum Laudis, Orders of Merit, Bravery (but these were the Military War ribbons) etc...one coudl have a full rack of ribbons on a bar and without the devices - it would be a guessing game as to what grade they were for.

To my knowledge there are several variations to the box - some have a bronze relief on the lid (from 'dealer' stories these were the earlier ones) others have the painted metal versionlike the ones we have. I had not noticed the difference in the plastic interior, but I think that is simply just a construction anomoly nothing more. But one could speculate that green is Army and blue is Airforce....but thats just speculation.

Very interesting - none of my reference material mentions such a makers mark on these 1922-1944 medals - however there are known instances where they were made in Germany during and after (!!) the war as well as in Austria. It could also be a private-purchase from a Hungarian jewler. Still - a very nice piece.