Well, since the government that awarded it no longer existed, how could it authorise anything? His original was not authorised by the government of the moment, so was it illegitimate somehow? Yes, what you describe it is a copy. Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be? Just as awards of "South Vietnam" made in the US today are copies, they are not authentic contemporary awards. Perhaps these are not intended to deceive and defraud modern collectors (of whose future existence and micro-arcane discussions our hypothetical PLM recipient probably couldn't even imagine). Part of the issue may lie in a phaleristic culture that awards pieces of paper, not named or numberd awards. Here's your paper, we'll give you one award (maybe), now go buy others if you want them. Is there a difference between buying them in 1917, 1937, or 1957? I'd suggest there is, on many levels.