Bob

A working scanner makes things a lot easier... no more 1MB digital photpgraphs:) On the right: Gold (not full) - 1000 On the left: Silver - 1.370 Note, slightly different color of screw.

Finally took the old scanner out of the box and threw some medals under it. Hope the number is readable. To make the thread more interesting, I'll also add pic of my weird Lenin (50% of people call it fake (safest thing to do of course) other 50% are PMing me to offer me money because they think it's a tractor Lenin prototype)!

I have a new low for Medal-40 years of the MPR (#A43): 00565

8379853554

On one of the dealer sites (initials RG) there is one with new highest number. Also, in a week or two I'll have the new lowest number in my possession:) Pics to follow then of course.

to the end...

and now for the booklet...

here we go then....

For "completeness" purposes. I have 4 different Uighur script OPS's (from left to right - two right hand ones with booklet): no 57 - mint mark at 12 / number at 6 'o clock and completely visible when screw is on no 307 - mint mark at 12 / number at 6 'o clock and number half covered by screw no 1562 - no mint mark / number at 7 'o clock and number completely visible no 2082 - mint mark at 12 / number at six but very close to screw and fully covered when screw is on Pics of order booklet for 1562 are show above already (a 1946 booklet). Will post order booklet for 2082 next (36 whopping pages! although I don't see the typical depiction of order number in it - nor does it make sense to have a 1940 order booklet for this high number... so is it even the correct order booklet?)

On a Soviet medal forum, a typical "order"-envy induced person would now come up and say: "sorry, they look fake to me... I don't quite like the patina on them"

I've received offers for sale direct... confirmed interest... only then to never hear back. This whole Mongolian collecting is just odd!

Do you have an address (website?) for this office?

Anybody here with any reliable sources on award numbers linked to awardees? How did the list with names for the Sukh bator for instance get compiled? Are there institutions in Mongolia that can be contacted to provide info?

and last pic

First... number 57 of T2V1S1 Next... a new variation... number 1562... Uighur inscription... concave reverse... serial number at 7 'o clock, no mintmark... this one obviously more interesting because I also have the award booklet incl. photograph of recipient!

and reverse...

Screwback number 559 has now found a loving home as well:) Curious as to who was awarded this one of course

And here's reverse

Attached Golden grade (number 1000). Apparently there are two different variations although this is the only type I have.

Then you are not looking in the right thread:)

I guess I missed a few while squinting to look at the picture of your collection:)

Is it just me, or is the uniformity of supply rather... well, uniform:) Take a look at what Glenn has... all the usual stuff which you'd be able to see on eBay or could relatively easily obtain through other channels. Now, look at the list of all Mongolian orders / medals... there are quite some on there that you never or hardly ever see on eBay despite the fact that - purely based on numbers produced - you'd just as easily expect to see them. Example: I've been offered 3 medals "glory of the virgin lands" on seperate occasions. I bought one of them. Never seen one on eBay. Supposedly there are 3000-4000 made. Now, I'm dying to get my hands on a 1970's onwards Order of Red Combat Banner (5000+) but can't find it. Similarly, the later Order for Meritorious Service in Battle is very uncommon. Etc. Have lots of these items just 'disappeared' over time? Or is there indeed this large influx of stuff from the state reserves... but then why only THIS uniform stuff? Compare it also for instance with the Title of Merit (the 3 later ones) - according to "the list" only <1000 issued of the numbered ones... yet I've purchased them quite easily (only now, with the chinggisron phenomenon, has the price for this one exploded). I just don't get it!

Why I think prices will continue to rise is really due to such a small supply (I know, everything is supply and demand...). Take a look at the Suche Bator... my guess is most current Mongolia collectors - if they have one or more SBs - will probably never part from them i.e. these items will be off the market for good... for ever. I certainly wouldn't part with mine just because I could get another 200 or even 2000 USD for it. And then... what is left is almost none really in the open market. Just look at the well known dealers websites... not that many SB's to see... on one site one item has SOLD, the other HOLD... I only know right now of one other site which has one for sale.

By the way, should it all just be speculation and that the market will tank in a year or so... if anybody then wants to sell me their Suche Bators, I'll gladly buy them for 200 Euro:)

http://sammler.ru/index.php?showtopic=7985 Russian collectors community doesn't appear to be much smaller or 'poorer' then western though if you consider a site like the one above.