Ed_Haynes

A few more - will dig out others and certificates tomorrow. Sorry if this makes things disjointed OK, more so than usual, . . . . Medal "120th Anniversary of I. V. Stalin" / Медаль ?В ознаменование 120-летия со дня рождения И. В. Сталина?

And the South Carolina state capitol still flew the Confederate battle flag (not knowing the difference) over the state capitol until a few years back. Yet, in Russia (former USSR), the Commnunist Party still exists as an entity. And they have a presidium, however irrelevant it may be in today's Russia.

Yet, sometimes, you may need to request "all", more than once, to get it "ALL".

Yep, and that's why I suggest to leave it as it is with no medals. It may be (and I think it is) an interesting intellectual exercise to ponder what medal that final mystery ribbon may represent. But the step of replacing (I'd not use the word "restoring", and might use less delicate words) the medals is quite another thing . . . . It is a lovely thing with some nice history, why muck with it?

But is an assertion -- or implication -- of "history" not being made? And very falsely made? Sorry to be an ethical and historical purist, but I do think this is something that people need to consider.

Why not leave the nice little bar the way it is, rather than manufacture a piece of fiction?

Lovely, lovely, lovely. Droooolllllll.

Very nice, thanks!

See also: http://www.russtv.portal24.ru/video1/russ_..._color_2000.mpg

Thanks, Dolf, for the display.

Maybe it is too early to start celebrating, maybe it isn't. Not sure we want to remind our cousins over on all the Third Reich forums, but: "Let no one forget, let nothing be forgotten."

Hear hear!!

A plausible, powerful, and evocative historical diagnosis, Joe. And the usual patented Rick restoration of history to these "things". Good job, all! Some of these tales really do bring out the human reality that is what we really study here. Speaking for myself, I'd leave the ribbons untouched. They were original and are part of the history of the group. But, then, I'm a bit of a purist about issues of phaleristic "history"; in evidence: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2400&st=1

M&E tends to have low estimates. They seem to think this encourages bidding. Maybe they have a point. But non-British stuff has not been strong in UK auctions over the last couple of years. We shall see . . . . It is my understanding that there may be another installment coming.

Thanks for these, I can't honestly say they'll "speed up" my efforts to learn some Mongolian, but every little bit helps. Thanks again.

Yes

I think the basic distinctions are: 1 - screwback 1.1 - nut at base of screwpost 1.2 - no nut at base of screwpost 2 - pinback Is this right? Mintmarks??

Not in any way an obscure auction house, but some really nice material from an old collection. Surprised to see it coming up, though. But, then, numismatics is not phaleristics.

Yes, and issued only because Roberts had all his royal friends bring prettly shameful pressure to overcome the legitimate opposition of the government. Originally, they didn't even want the medal, just two clasps to the IGS 54. But because "Bobs" was "Bobs" and unafraid to use his titled chums to twist arms in the Government of India, the campaign was heavily and doubly medalled (and standards for gallantry awards were lowered as well). It all sounds very contemporary.

Thanks, so many of these are unnamed. All the naming seems to have been done regimentally. I can say a good bit about Indian Army, but know nothing about the patterns of naming to natives (of the British Isles).

Nice, and the paperwork really adds interest. Is the KtoK Star named?

Yes, "The Order of the Vajra". In English that is. The Mongol name is as yet elusive.

A closely related field to phaleristics, vexology: http://www.fotw.net/flags/mn.html

In response to a PM, I bump this thread.

1- Material - I assume this is some low-end gold or silver gilt. I have not taken it to a local jeweler to test; not so sure I'd trust them. I assume it was made in whatever Bjork (Battushig says Bock ? but were they still in business that late??) of St. Petersburg and other late-Tsarist Russian jewelers used in making their stuff. While some (a very few, post-1917 ones?) were made in Mongolia, this seems to me to be a pre-revolutionary Russian-made piece. Remember, the thing was only awarded from 1913 until the collapse of feudalism in 1924. 2- Stones - Again, I am a historian not a gem specialist (to paraphrase Dr. McCoy). Looks like a real lapis lazuli in the centre (which it should be for this grade) and fake pearls around the edge. See close-up scan below.