Bob

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 last pic

ORDER OF THE POLAR STAR

T1: old design pattern - Mondvor mintmark

T2V1S1: Uighur inscription - serial number 6 o'clock - upward curved Monetnyi Dvor mintmark (12 o'clock position)

T2V1S2: Uighur inscription - serial number under screwpost - downward curved Monetnyi Dvor mintmark (12 o'clock position)

T3V1: Cyrillic inscription - concave reverse - serial number 7 o'clock

T3V2: Cyrillic inscription - flat (trench) reverse - serial number under screwpost

T3V3: Cyrillic inscription - flat slightly pebbled reverse - serial number 6 o'clock

T4: 1970's pinback

Jan

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.

Here's one of the more unusual pieces our friend in Ulanbataar has for sale. ~$100 and counting. have not seen another of these yet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-BADGE-OF-DISTINCTI...1QQcmdZViewItem

Then you are not looking in the right thread:)

The usual stuff

3 Sukhe Bator orders,

Hero of Labor,

Order of the Red Banner of Military Valor

same 4th award

Polar Star 1st type A31

A40.3

A6.1

2 of A32.1

A26

5 of A23.2

4 of A23.3

A23.4

2 E 01

F 02, F 03

2- B 01, 5- B 02, 3- B 04

A61.3

And only then go usual stuff

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.

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.

One reason why I seek whatever I can find ... one reason I hope to be in Ulanbaatar this summer ....

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:)

What you have called Type 2 is not a best herders badge.

Herfurth got that wrong.

It's a distinguished rangers badge.

The rangers are the people that gather up the cattle in the countryside and bring it to the cities for slaughter.

Jan

Good - this way we learn:)

Ribbon bar, anyone say ribbon bar??

Here's the lot

Jan

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

and more

more

and more

more

Maybe Bob can post his beautiful boxed Choibalsan state prize here aswell.

Jan

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