Bob

Some fair points. What's your take though on the number of Chinese / Russians purchasing (whether for trade or collecting) Mongolian items. There are quite some Russian language websites with quite rare items. Perhaps there's a large market of collectors over there... tough competition because they are also becoming more affluent.

It feels like a scramble to get what's still out there... either prices will continue to rise as a result of which in a year or two for many it will become too expensive to complete their collection with the few missing items, or it's all speculation and the market will crash again... in which case I'll be more than happy to take that opportunity to restock on more of these great orders / medals. Either way, it's a good moment to have a nice stock of Mongolian items here at home in my shoe box:)

Good - this way we learn:)

And there I was thinking I had a lot with my 7 vintage ribbons in my collection

and the last one... This is my favorite Mongolian award in possession.

and more

and more

and more

more

No problem - in more detail now then

Reverse. Number is easily readable with naked eye but didn't transfer well (very thin) with digital camera.

Attached is a modern Polar Star (the ugly brass kind). Two types should apparently exist: Var 1 - Cyrillic script, pinback, brass, 2003 - ....... 31,529 - 39,785 number range Var 2 - pinback, unnumbered, brass, 2003 - .....unnumbered What do I find? A brass one with number 13010. It's probably difficult to see in the picture, but trust me, right under the bottom two rivets in thin numbers is 13010. Mint mistake?

Reverse

Type 1 Var 1 - thick numbers - I have 436 (range observed: 159 - 8,904) Type 1 Var 2 - slim numbers - I have 16,904 (range observed: 10,117 - 25,161) Type 2 Var 1 - enamel / guilding - for foreigners (Battushig mentions this one doesn't formally exists; he also was surprised to see it in Herfurth) Note: - the original ribbon from '46-'61

The other ones

Reverse

An area of interest that I hope to be expanding my collection on in the near future. Right now, only 3 items from me: - Distinguished Co-Worker of the State Security Service (type 5: state security; honorary badge) - D05 - unnumbered - 60 years of State Security Organization (D10) - 80 years of State Security Organization (D12) - made out of 3 pieces but by far not as nice Soon I'll also have a D03a to post here. Would love to see additions (with photographs!) from others so we can get a complete overview.

Reverse

Let's look at this one in a thread. Unfortunately I've not even been able to spot an A7.1 (pre '75) or A7.2 (post '75)... these are the ones with red stones. I do have A8 complete - 3 variations: - T1V1 - hand-engraved number (I have 244; numbers sited range from 8-407) note the slight difference in pin on back - T1V2 - rotating-tool serial, low-quality local production (I have 706; numbers sited range from 452-786) - T2V1 - unnumbered (note: light blue air) What surprises me is the relatively low price you can buy these at given such small quantities of the first 2 variations were ever made. I guess it doesn't get as much attention since it's small, nothing spectacular in design and isn't an order.

And beautiful large screw. Text: - on top: "Ulaanbaatar" and then three letters: XOT - bottom: Uruu..... Arte..." - wasn't in the mood to decipher this morning... presumably artists cooperative

Reverse

And to finish it: type 4 (J-03). Supposedly extremely rare (on the list it was mentioned only 6 sited). Well, this is one of them. Unnumbered so no indication of how many were produced. It's in fantastic condition.

Reverse

Next up... again a type 3 but this time variation 2: silver plated... in my case: worn off. Number I have is 791 and indication is numbers range from 56 - 4100.

Reverse