Dave makes some very powerful and important points, with which I am in absolute agreement. HISTORY!! There is also a tendancy -- and those of us in the developing world of Mongolian awards have to contend with it constantly -- toward a dynamic that wants more and more and more types and varieties and sub-varieties and sub-sub-varieties, extending down almost to the electron-microscopic uniqueness of each individual award. If there are true varieties that may divulge something about the phaleristic history and changing award processes of the award, fine and dandy. If, however, we are just identifying "noise" in the manufacturing process, minor differences in each batch as they were made up with all the errors and sloppiness of manufacture (making medals is NOT rocket science), then what of any substance are we doing? (Other than giving collectors more items they need to tick off on their checklists -- "Oh, look, a rare type 4, variety 18, sub-variety 42.8 of the ___ -- gotta have it!!") My two hundred Tugriks or five Kopecks worth, Ed