Ed_Haynes

You have the images you have, and you work with what is available. I hope we all understand that challenge.

Sorry, but sometimes just posting a picture and implicitly saying "Here, see" is not worth 1,000 words, not even 5 words, sometimes it communicates nothing. Some context some explanation is -- often, if not always -- necessary. Sorry if this means you are having to talk down to the (non-Russian-speaking-and-reading) imbeciles. And I do wish you didn't feel that way.

Many strangnesses here. Clearly the ring is diddled. I can't see the serial number either and would want a close look at it before plunking down the cash. Personally, I think I'd give this one a pass. Not like they aren't pretty deep on the ground?

And, depending on where he is in life, even an e-mail answer can be delayed

C 40 -- The Champion of the Army

Also cross-listed as W 59.

Thanks for your help Ed

Does that create a problem? I am not sure what to read in that.

No problem at all, but he'd be more likely, even today, to be in what the Brits used to call a "follower" position than in a command/educated/authority position. Sad, but factual.

Much to study, thanks. But this is true for all the images on your website!

Early cap star

H 21 -- Flag Pin

H 17 -- United Nations Accession of Mongolia, 1961

This is Battushig's identification. I am uncertain.

H 16 -- Mongolia

H 15 -- Mongolia

H 14 -- Mongolia

H 12 -- Mongolia

H 08 -- Mongolia

H 04 -- Coat of Arms Pin

Two varieties. Have remnents of prongs on the back. What was their use?

H 05 -- Soyombo Pin

Two varieties. Have prongs on the back. What was their use?

W 50 -- 1st Spartakad of the Ulanbaatar City, 1967

W04, three ways. Three Sport Masters. A pre-W04, a W04, and a post-W04?

W10, two ways. Big (30 mm) and little (20 mm). Since the legend is in English, I'd guess this was intended for teams traveling to the West, maybe to the Olympics and such?

And a sort of special case (and not the same generic medal), for the 1966 Spartakada (what Battushig shows as W28). Shown here in gold and silver, I assume there is a bronze "out there" too.

Back to the Samar Seva Star, I have just received from An Expert (The Expert) on IAF medals:

Odd number... even odder abbreviation. My guess (pretty wild, but as good as any) is "Civil Technician", probably HAL or some such, working on deputation to the IAF. Will try and tap some other official source to see if I can come up with anything better.

Glad to know The Expert is as confused as we are.

Nice one you have there.

But I still come back to the single name which usually says "low caste".

A possible third variety (what Battushig shows as W29), only have it in bronze (or is it just badly silvered bronze?). Identical to what Battushig shows. Suspended from a flag-colored scroll suspender (or is this a "mule"?).

To compare the two, in "silver".

A second version, smaller medals (27 mm), with the runner running left. Same "ribbon logic" as before. To make this more complex, I've seen these with both screwbacks and pinbacks.