new world

I've got the last Lenin DM had listed on his site.

Christian, why would you believe just anything written in the tabloid magazines? Were his sttements verified by a reliable source? Anyone can publish memoirs these days, but unfortunately most of them are full of anekdotes and made up stories. Given realities of life in the Soviet Union I find that statement impossible to believe. Especially given Brezhnev's educational background and line of work his was in. William

Christian, With all due respect, where did you get this nonsense from? You should study facts from Brezhnev's biography and then draw judgement about his education and reading habits. Just for your information, he graduated from technical institute with engineering degree. Requirement, teaching methods and curriculum were very rigorous at such educational institutions. After graduation he worked as an engineer, raising rapidly through the ranks. I doubt he would be any successful if he lacked education. Upon joining the army he studied at the tank school, which is not your basic math. Later in his career he was in charge of the metallurgical college. I doubt he would be put in such position without proper background and education. He later became political commissar. As a general rule, those guys were extremely smart. Just so you know, to be in such position one needed to have deep knowledge of works by political writers (Lenin, Marx, Stalin, etc). I doubt that a damn person would be able to be successful in such position without background and constant updating of his skills (through reading of course). After the war Brezhnev ran important re-building projects, which a dummy - as you try to portray him - would not be fit to undertake. William

Absolutely, he was driving his cars! I remember reading somewhere that the driver would come to pick him up in one of his fancy cars and Brezhnev would take the driving sit. He was good driver and really enjoyed navigating those cars. Other members of Politburo and his security officers were not crazy about his passion for safety reasons. William

One think to keep in mind - these are not market prices. These are what two or three individuals with too much cash were bidding up on the auction. They didn't care if the price of the award was $1,000 or $10,000. These are people who don't ask "how much", they just say "I'll take it at any price". We are talking about tiny slice of the collectors community (less than 1%?). Will this affect prices for the rest of us? You bet. During the auction Igor was seen working on his laptop, changing prices on some of his web site offerings. William

Realized SB prices (plus auction premium): SB Screwback - 2246 $3,250 SB Pinback - 2247 $2,000 William

2281 $1,400 2282 $320 2283 $1,200 2284 $25,000 2285 $20,000 2286 $2,400 2287 $725 2288 $600 2289 $2,800 2290 $950 2291 $2,600 2292 425 2293 $4,000 2294 $1,400 2295 $1,100 2296 - 2297 $1,400 2298 $1,700 2299 $4,000 2300 $1,100 2301 $800 2302 $900 2303 $5,250 2304 $700 2305 $700 2306 $450 2307 $220 2308 $1,500 2309 - 2310 $475 2311 $1,100 2312 $4,250 2313 $3,250 2314 $1,500 2315 $725 2316 $450 2317 $1,800 2318 $850 2319 $240 2320 $425 2321 $200 2322 $400 2323 $220 2324 $350 2325 $240 2326 $375 2327 $160 2328 $160 2329 $1,800 2330 $320 2331 $320 2332 $475 2333 $2,800 2334 $500 2335 $240 2336 $350 2337 $200 2338 $240 2339 $375 2340 $700 2341 $700 2342 $525 2343 $450 2344 $200 2345 $1,600 2346 $875 2347 $4,250 2348 $3,000 2349 $4,000 2350 $2,800 2351 $1,900 2352 $2,000 2353 $1,800 2354 $3,250 2355 $300 2356 $240 2357 $240 2358 $600 2359 $600 2360 $1,100 2361 $11,000 2362 - 2363 - 2364 $150 2365 - 2366 -

2193 $40,000 2194 $15,000 2195 $5,750 2196 $62,500 2197 $26,000 2198 $32,500 2199 $37,500 2200 $35,000 2201 $37,500 2202 - 2203 - 2204 $15,000 2205 $2,000 2206 - 2207 $14,000 2208 $2,200 2209 $7,000 2210 $8,500 2211 $11,000 2212 $2,000 2213 $24,000 2214 $2,000 2215 $20,000 2216 $150,000 2217 $42,500 2218 $17,000 2219 $17,000 2220 $1,600 2221 $1,600 2222 $30,000 2223 $60,000 2224 $14,000 2225 $24,000 2226 $4,000 2227 - 2228 $2,800 2229 $1,600 2230 $1,600 2231 $11,000 2232 $950 2233 $11,000 2234 $8,000 2235 $425 2236 $2,000 2237 $6,750 2238 $1,000 2239 $2,800 2240 $1,500 2241 $600 2242 - 2243 $2,600 2244 $3,250 2245 $11,000 2246 $3,250 2247 $2,000 2248 $280 2249 $350 2250 $4,250 2251 - 2252 - 2253 $400 2254 - 2255 - 2256 - 2257 - 2258 - 2259 - 2260 - 2261 - 2262 $75 2263 - 2264 - 2265 - 2266 - 2267 $40 2268 - 2269 - 2270 $450 2271 $425 2272 $500 2273 $47,500 2274 $7,250 2275 $1,200 2276 $4,000 2277 $800 2278 $6,000 2279 $2,600 2280 $1,800

2105 - 2106 $600 2107 $280 2108 $280 2109 $1,600 2110 $360 2111 - 2112 $500 2113 $475 2114 $300 2115 $120 2116 $300 2117 $14,000 2118 $650 2119 - 2120 $5,750 2121 $3,200 2122 - 2123 $2,400 2124 $1,500 2125 $3,500 2126 - 2127 $1,300 2128 $19,000 2129 $4,500 2130 $850 2131 - 2132 $325 2133 $600 2134 $200 2135 $200 2136 - 2137 $15,000 2138 $2,200 2139 $240 2140 $800 2141 $800 2142 $2,000 2143 $1,400 2144 $675 2145 $1,100 2146 $350 2147 $6,250 2148 $6,750 2149 $1,600 2150 $400 2151 $57,500 2152 - 2153 $200 2154 $850 2155 $325 2156 $4,000 2157 - 2158 $425 2159 - 2160 $750 2161 $575 2162 $300 2163 $140 2164 $525 2165 $2,200 2166 $425 2167 $350 2168 - 2169 $7,000 2170 - 2171 $160 2172 $300 2173 $160 2174 $2,400 2175 $1,800 2176 $325 2177 $375 2178 $7,000 2179 $575 2180 $140,000 2181 $150,000 2182 $16,000 2183 $30,000 2184 $67,500 2185 $85,000 2186 $85,000 2187 $72,500 2188 $52,500 2189 $42,500 2190 $45,000 2191 $77,500 2192 $60,000

2017 $7,250 2018 $7,500 2019 $850 2020 $2,400 2021 $12,000 2022 $400 2023 $40,000 2024 $1,400 2025 - 2026 $1,200 2027 $240 2028 $600 2029 $650 2030 $625 2031 $42,500 2032 $5,750 2033 $2,300 2034 $3,500 2035 $7,250 2036 $675 2037 $7,250 2038 $1,700 2039 $2,600 2040 $7,000 2041 $2,600 2042 $1,300 2043 $1,200 2044 $625 2045 $340 2046 $1,200 2047 $1,500 2048 $375 2049 $425 2050 $900 2051 $1,200 2052 $1,300 2053 $1,400 2054 $200 2055 $150 2056 $4,000 2057 $47,500 2058 $7,500 2059 $1,400 2060 $525 2061 $525 2062 $520 2063 $2,000 2064 $1,200 2065 $60 2066 $2,800 2067 $22,000 2068 $3,250 2069 $100 2070 $800 2071 $160 2072 $1,200 2073 - 2074 $1,800 2075 $450 2076 - 2077 $850 2078 $650 2079 $280 2080 - 2081 - 2082 $325 2083 $1,800 2084 $150 2085 - 2086 $2,200 2087 $240 2088 $450 2089 $2,000 2090 $1,600 2091 - 2092 $1,600 2093 $16,000 2094 $1,600 2095 $425 2096 $900 2097 $2,400 2098 - 2099 - 2100 - 2101 $2,800 2102 $1,200 2103 - 2104 $400

Here are realized prices for the auction (compiled by Alex Filer). William AUCTION XIX 2001 $60,000 2002 $6,500 2003 $8,000 2004 $9,500 2005 $37,500 2006 - 2007 $3,250 2008 $500,000 2009 $5,000 2010 $6,250 2011 $3,250 2012 $950 2013 $2,000 2014 $1,200 2015 $1,400 2016 $6,000

About replacing real awards with fakes in museums. I used to indirectly know this one guy, he was very talented craftsman and could make very good copies of top Soviet orders for sale to collectors. We are talking about serious stuff - high quality goldplated silver and hard enamels. You would not be able to tell the difference if you saw one on display. Bottom line - he got into trouble with authorities when some of his products ended up in museums in place of original awards... So, I would not be surprised if most of good-looking items on display are not real as well. William

Friends, Here's something for you to drool over. I saved this old price list from 2003-2004 on my PC - look over it and think about golden days of Soviet collecting. 2003 is when prices started going up. " Prices of Soviet awards in Ukraine October 2003 - February 2004 A friend regularly reports prices of Soviet awards in Ukraine and concludes that all markets take cue from Kiev (prices are in USD and are applicable also to Odessa, Kiev, Lvov, Rovno, Uzhgorod and Chernovtsi). First prices are from mid-October 2003 and the second from December 2003. The last price is from February 2004. ORDERS OF LENIN (on suspension) 420-430; 460-490 OF LENIN (Mondvor) 1.600 (February 2004) OCTOBER REVOLUTION 90-100; 110-130; 130-150 THE RED BANNER from 55; THE RED BANNER (screwback) from 230; ALEXANDER NEVSKY from 450; 500; 520; ALEXANDER NEVSKY (on suspension) 800; 850; 850-900; THE PATRIOTIC WAR, 1ST CLASS from 135 THE PATRIOTIC WAR, 2ND CLASS from 20-25 THE RED BANNER OF LABOR 14-15; 20 THE RED BANNER OF LABOR (flatback) from 30 OF FRIENDSHIP OF PEOPLES 190-220; 200 -250, 220-250; THE RED STAR 8-10; 10-20; 25; THE RED STAR (screwpost base) from 20; SERVICE TO THE MOTHERLAND IN THE ARMED FORCES, 2ND Cl. 500 SERVICE TO THE MOTHERLAND IN THE ARMED FOR. 3RD Cl. 150-170; 180; 185-190; BADGE OF HONOR 10; 12; 15 BADGE OF HONOR (flatback) from 25; 30; FOR PERSONAL COURAGE (USSR) 320; 350; 350 FOR PERSONAL COURAGE (without USSR) 450 (with documents from Gorbachev); 550 OF GLORY 2ND CLASS 100; 140; 160 OF GLORY 3RD CLASS 23-25; 25; 25-45 MEDALS FOR BRAVERY 8;10 MEDAL FOR BRAVERY (small suspension) 30-35; 35 USHAKOV from 320-350 (without documents); 350 -380; 420; FOR COMBAT SERVICE 5; 7; FOR COMBAT SERVICE (small suspension) 28-30; 35; NAKHIMOV (from 200 without documents); 300; 350 (number > 12000) FOR DISTINGUISHED LABOR 7; 8; FOR A PARTISAN OF THE PATRIOTIC WAR, 1ST CLASS 90; 100 FOR A PARTISAN OF THE PATRIOTIC WAR, 2ND CLASS 60; 80; 90 DISTINCTION IN GUARDING THE STATE BORDER (neuzilber) 60-65; 60-70; DISTINCTION IN GUARDING THE STATE BORDER (silver) 100; 120; 150 DISTINGUISHED MILITARY SERVICE, 1ST AND 2ND CLASS 50 & 40; DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE PRESERV.OF PUBLIC ORDER (neuzilber) 55-60; 60 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE PRESERV. OF PUBLIC ORDER (silver) 90-95; 100; 150 BRAVERY IN A FIRE (neuzilver) 60; 70; 70; BRAVERY IN A FIRE (silver) 100; 120; 150; SAVING LIFE FROM DROWNING 150; 150- 170; 160; THE DEFENSE OF LENINGRAD 6; 10; 10; THE DEFENSE OF MOSCOW 6; 10; 10 THE DEFENSE OF ODESSA 45; 100; 100; THE DEFENSE OF SEVASTOPOL 45-50; 70-80; 85 THE DEFENSE OF STALINGRAD 6; 10; 10 THE DEFENSE OF KIEV 20; 25; 30; THE DEFENSE OF THE CAUCASUS 6; 10; 10; THE DEFENSE OF THE SOVIET POLAR REGIONS 25; 30 FOR VICTORY OVER GERMANY IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR, 1941-1945 from 3 30TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR 1.5 40TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR 1.5 VICTORY OVER JAPAN 6; 10; 10; CAPTURE OF BUDAPEST 6; 12; 12; CAPTURE OF KOENIGSBERG 6; 10; 10; CAPTURE OF VIENNA 12; 15-18; 18; CAPTURE OF BERLIN 6; 10; 10; LIBERATION OF BELGRADE from 30; 60; 70; LIBERATION OF WARSAW 6; 10; 10; LIBERATION OF PRAGUE 10; 12 - 14; 16; VALIANT LABOR IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR (1941-1945) 5; 5; A VETERAN OF LABOR 1; 1.5; VETERANS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE USSR 4-5; 5; FOR STRENGTHENING MILITARY COOPERATION not seen; 180; 170-180; RESTORATION OF THE BLACK METAL ENTERPRISES from 30; 40; 40; RESTORATION OF THE DONBASS COAL MINES 60; 70; 65; DEVELOPMENT OF THE VIRGIN LANDS 20; 20 -25; 25; CONSTRUCTION OF THE BAIKAL-AMUR RAILROAD 40; 40-50; 45; DEVELOPMENT OF THE NON-BLACK EARTH REGION 55-60; 60-70; 100; DEVEL. OF THE PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX OF W. SIBERIA 55-60; 60-70; 200!! 20 YEARS OF THE WORKERS' AND PEASANTS' RED ARMY from 200; 220-250; 20 YEARS OF THE WORKERS' AND PEASANTS' RED ARMY (first type) 250-270; 300; 30 YEARS OF THE SOVIET ARMY AND NAVY 3; 3; 40 YEARS OE THE ARMED FORCES OF THE USSR 3; 5; 50 YEARS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE USSR 1.5; 1.5; 60 YEARS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE USSR 1.5 1.5; 70 YEARS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE USSR 1.25; 1.25; 100TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LENIN'S BIRTH 3; 3; 50 YEARS OF THE SOVIET MILITIA 5; 6=5; 800TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MOSCOW 6; 7; 7; 250TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LENINGRAD 6; 7; 7; 1500TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF KIEV 4; 7; 7;" William

Ed, But good half of Soviet awards aren't researchable either. Take labor, pre-WW2 or partizans awards. Some German awards are researchable in their own way. You won't get detailed citations, but military history can be traced if award is attributed. William

I think so. I like the photo though.

Member Brian posted this on Art's forum: "Here were some of the "hammer" prices for some of the Soviet stuff (keep in mind there is also a 12% buyer's premium on top of this). They don't seem to have the final bids posted anywhere, but here is what i remember: Gold Head order of lenin with book: $150,000 (ten times posted reasonable estimate) Silver head order of lenin: $43,250 Platimum head screwback orders of lenin: $14,000 Red Banner screwback (non mirror back): over $3000 RB screwback #2: i think was like $24,000 Red star with SN 18K: $1,500 BoH screwback with book SN 8K,1939: like $30,000" William

I think this is really the end of the road of Soviet collecting for most of ordinary collectors. Sad part is that now every seller out there will be using prices from that auction as reference point. This stuff makes German WW2 awards look like bargains.

Igor has one Golden Head for sale for $11,000. It's without document and number has been altered, but it's almost 15 (!!!!) less than the one sold last night. W

That is insane! Are you sure the number is accurate? William

This picture was posted by a member one a collecor forum in Russia. Medal was issued in 1967.

Friends, Interesting update on this group. I just talked to a person who bought this group earlier last year. Upon buying the group he ordered research and the research confirmed that last three awards were added to the group. Again, kudos to your comments, you were right on target! William

Auction wil take place in about 10 hours. I guess we will know the result in the next couple of days. William

These awards historically were selling slightly above the price of the metal content. You have to keep in mind that there this type of Lenin (made by Leningrad and Moscow mints) were issued from 1950s to the end of Soviet Union. That's over 30 years and about 270,000 awards!!! Lots of these Lenins were melted into jewelry or dental crowns, but still - plenty of them survived. This award is not rare at all, there are always several for sale at any moment. BTW, currently price of Lenin is approaching $2000 in Russia, but still I think Igor went too high with this one. William

I am not sure about this particular bade, but Yugoslavia issued nice table medal for participants of storming of Winter Palace. William

Well, I went to the auction preview. This time around Dmitry has great collection of early Sovier Republican awards. I have never seen so many republican awards together! It was rare opportunity to sit down and hold them all in your hands. The workmanship and the details are simply amazing. Early Soviet awards were truly special, contunuing traditions of tsarist school of marksmen. It's not your late badges where everything is stamped out as one massive silver / gold chunk of metal with one or two elements attached. No, some of these early awards were composed of multiple pieces, each tiny element enameled and attached with rivets or miniatire hooks. The awards look so fragile, one has to wander how they were worn. Take Odessa Criminal Police badges - I assume these wee for everyday wear, but the construction looks very fragile to me. You begin to picture brave detectives chasing criminals on the dark city streets... Just the fact that these amazing awards have survived through the years is astonishing. Then your your eyes shift to the page of the catalogue where you see price estimate for some of these treasures - small fortunes at $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 - and you realize real meaning of the word... William