Bob

As with most countries, I think they devoted less attention to odd and exotic foreigners than to their own citizens. And it may have been a function of what the embassy in Moscow held in the valuts. Yet as only some 40 of the "2" were ever awarded, . . . 10-15 of the "3" and 4-5 of the "4" . . . ???

Are you referring to number of people awarded a second / third / fourth RCB or number of people awarded an RCP with a 2 /3 / 4 at bottom?

Also, I've seen above numbers mentioned several times but what's the source?

Makes you wonder why Mongolia even had the 2-3-4 indicated Red Combat Banner's since they "never" seemed to actually been awarded. Here again, he has 2 RCB's of which one is a very recent model... I would have expected that the 2-3-4's would have been in stock so why not give such one instead of just a different new issue?

I suspect some new life may have been put into this order by the Mongolian government...

shiny metal, typical "new award type" enamel... and nr 211334!

Some additions:

- inventor medal but 239

- honorary worker of state prosecution 0241

- 50 years of industrial combinat... number 2!

- the honorary badge .... 266

As mentioned, I'm going to do a thorouh review of my entire Mongolia collection over the weekend - will seeif more comes out of that.

Yes, there were medals... small impression

And all this, before heading to the Stalin museum...

More on Stalin museum in Gori (home of Stalin) next time - too late here now

But before heading to the Stalin museum... a pleasant surprise, a nice little military museum tucked away in a corner (so happy to get a visitor that no entrance was asked and photography was free everywhere).

To give an impression.

Yep - Stalin still standing tall...

of course, with his own "Stalin Avenue" who can blame him!

and something to remember 3 Georgian with who played a role in defeating facism

and apparently a Georgian who boarded the wrong flight and found himself in Afghanistan...

although, if blankn booklets are on the market, I guess you can also get Alexander Lebed's for sale somewhere...

And here's an interesting variation that you don't see very often...

2132344 is my guess of the number

another item bought in Georgia... OGPW... bit of a wild swing of the sickle... but took the risk of payin 10 USD anyway... for the high number... unless it's a fake, I'd consider researching this "common" award as well out of curiosity for when / where it was awarded (no doc for this one)

number: 951880

second pic - more meaningful

Looks like a good piece. As far as research, I checked the database on here, and mine and I think it might well be. Why not?

Dave

The calvinist in me just feels a bit weird about paying much more for research than the actual award.

Here is the doc that came with it... doesn't seem right though in terms of the order / timing. Perhaps the book itself is just "made up".

I'll research the red star - first time so should be fun whatever comes out:)

Deputat

Was offered it for 800 USD (which I presumed was cheap - for a 3rd RB that is).

Will post some other items now which were cheap also in USD terms. Let's see if I got badly burned buying "junk" (soviet is not my main area of collecting) or not.

First, worthwhile researching a late Red Star or not? Number 3545081 placing it around 57 / 58 after long service awards... or?

Here's 2 that I recently acquired.

Hard to determine sometimes with fading colors but let's give it a try (left to right):

1)

Top row: Order Red Star, Medal of Bravery, Medal of Liberation

Bottom row: Medal for 10th Anniversary of Army

2)

Top row: Order Red Star, Medal of Bravery, Medal of Liberation

Bottom row: ????, Medal for 10th Anniversary of Army

Next up...

Left to right:

- Distinguished Medical Worker Badge

- 8th Congress of PPSH badge

- Pioneers of Enver Hoxha badge (cheapish feel to it - similar in design to much nicer produced Always Ready badgeg)

- Young Naturalist bade (whatever that is - high quality / heavy feeling badge though)

Some new items just in... first FDSH badge + certificate dated 2-5-77 (not clear what the "Nr" in front is).

Some translation (from the seller):

"BADGE AND CERTIFICATE AWARDED BY FDSH TO A DISTINGUISHED FDSH ACTIVIST FOR HIS GOOD WORK IN PROPAGATING THE DIRECTIVES AND DECISIONS OF LABOR PARTY OF ALBANIA TO THE MASSES"

Further noting:

FDSH STANDS FOR "ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC FRONT" - THIS WAS A COMMUNIST ORGANISATION THAT PROPAGATED THE COMMUNIST AND LABOR PARTY IDEALS TO THE MASS OF PEOPLE. THEY WERE ACTIVE IN EVERY NEIGHBOURHOOD AND THEY WERE THE EYES AND THE HANDS OF THE PARTY

Bob,

So did I, two days ago.

Yep - thanks. I guess I was almost expectin there to be more than just 1 person doing research - guess I was wrong.

Right, the 3 RB-entries look a bit strange, but the OK was issued in 1947 and ALL 3 RBs should be post-war according to their s/n. So, the writing is different.

Maybe the comrade was a great test-pilot, who got his 2 RBs + 1 long-service-RB in the 1950s?

Maybe he got his 3 RBs within one year: Tested two new aircrafts + 20 years in service?

Best regards

Christian

Well, that's not a bet I'm going to take with my money:)

Feedback is consistent also with "the other forum" and, when it comes to spotting fakes, shows that you trust gut instinct if you feel it's not right.

Glad I kept my money in my pocket... when I post my other stuff (which I did buy, for only a small amount of Georgian Lari's) I'll see whether I did OK there though:)

3rd awarding, serial number 6014 + booklet

extremely difficult from these unfocussed pics of course... but still, appreciate your feedback

the price was attractive enough to want to buy it but substantial enough to not take a blind risk

The 3rd award - as per Echoes of War - would have been given between 5-11-50 and 15-11-50.... probably long service?

The 2nd... war time?

The 1st... idem?

Will be posting some scans of awards I purchased there later today. Nothing major / shocking (although very nice deputat badge with low number is an interesting) but am considering researching a couple:

- high numbered red star with booklet

- WW2 issue order of great patriotic war

Of course... assuming what I purchased is real. Will also post some pics of interesting museums: Museum of Stalin and, close by, a nice local WW2 museum with some awards and stuff.

That's for later today. First though... an item which I didn't buy but still have an option on and would appreciate your feedback.

- Order of Red Banner 3rd awarding

- with booklet

Does this set make sense?

Pics coming in a minute.

Yes, please do. Might already have it but want to get some first research done on some awards I have so any / all routes are good:)

These people are neither historians or true collectors in the sense of the name.

Please explain - people with lots of $$$ can't be "real" collectors? Or does the source of the money define this?