Bob

Perhaps the collecting community is just quite small and has generally been able to obtain most of what they want? 2000 Suche Baatars... how much demand for them is there REALLY from collectors? I have 2 myself... but are there 1000 people who'd fork up the money?

1st class pinback deep dish

3 - more on request (specific orders/medals)

And scan 2

green book - some random scans

I heard the rumor from the person who'd be arranging the research. Just keep fingers crossed! Now things will get interesting, were all those nice and shiny Red Banner's REALLY awarded or not?

After the summer the state archives will open up and it will be possible to research awards...

Doesn't ring a bell here - sorry That the board has been deserted for a while now doesn't help of course.

That reminds me of a quote from Pulp Fiction: "This watch was on you daddy's wrist when he was shot down over Hanoi. He was captured and put in a Vietnamese prison camp. He knew that if the gooks ever saw the watch, they'd confiscate it--take it away. The way your dad looked at it, this watch was your birthright. He'd be damned if any slope's gonna put their greasy yellow hands on his boy's birthright. So, he hid it, in one place he knew he could hide something: his ass. Five long years he wore this watch . . . up his ass. Then, he died of dysentery, he give me the watch. I hid this uncomfortable hunk of metal up my ass two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the watch to you."

Is it also illegal to IMport them then?

Interesting - I'll have to wait and see what I get in the mail then because I've purchased above gold colored one and another one which is silver colored. Closer examination required upon receipt

Eric - while waiting for your updated edition, do you know if there is also a 2nd class of this order?

Great - that explains a lot. There I was thinking that a recent 2nd class one I saw had an incorrect ribbon

Well, they're presumably administering the local laws right? I know collectors are generally ehmm "flexible" in terms of how to get those rare missing items for the collection but still... Anyway, I am not holier than the pope... I was on a driving vacation to Ukraine and hiding awards in your car is of course a lot easier than in a mail packet or piece of luggage for a flight. I will be going to Russia for some weeks of mountaineering so will be able to simply put any medals I buy into my check in luggage which will contain a healthy load of metal mountaineering equipment anyway:) Back to the topic though: good places to go shopping? E.g. any dealers with a real physical shop? I imagine the open markets aren't good places to obtain genuine quality pieces anymore (recall 8 years ago or so this 1 big market next to a hotel a bit out of the center city).

Will be in Moscow for a day or 2 in 2 months time - best spots for QUALITY awards shopping?

Not a LOT of Albania enthusiasts, but those that are here... sure are enthusiastic:) Some new (cased) arrivals today... will post during the weekend.

You mean you don't read Mongolian? I am thoroughly disappointed Rick!

No time for detailed scans - combined 220 pages of russian (mosly) text about Mongolian awards SURELY must have something new to tell!

Old, so let's not get our hopes up too high. Nevertheless, the suspense in itself is already making it fun:) Judging by the amount of text, I'd be somewhat disappointed if it didn't contain at least some tidbit of new info.

Just received 2 more books on Mongolian awards which haven't been seen here yet. Will try to find time to post some pics tonight. Hopefully our friendly community will be able to do a quick translation here or there to see if there's useful new info to be found:)

And in the meantime Alexei is uncovering beautiful items and putting them on his site almost every week or two

reverse

They all look the same (and unfortunately are not numbered) but nevertheless, they are pretty so here's another one.

So we here have a nice basic 3rd class pinback.

Just looking at collectrussia... they have #318 for sale there. If I may quote: "Magnificent quality, riveted hollow construction typical of the earliest Soviet awards. This is an extremely rare 1940 variation with two-word "Monetnyi Dvor" mint mark. The style of mint mark indicates very late production, just before the complete re-design of this decoration in 1940. Coincidentally, that same year "Monetnyi Dvor" mint mark replaced the earlier "Mondvor" at the Soviet mint, therefore pinpointing 1940 as the exact year of manufacture for this specimen. Most other pieces that we have observed to date had the one-word mint mark. Engraved serial number "318" in characteristic, early Soviet manner." Well, with my number 291 and also the two-word mintmark we've then just pintpointed this down a bit further:)