Greg Collins

Kevin,

I guess my next question would be "what denotes a high ranking officer"? The Romanians did not, so far as I can see, have the insignia differences that we have between company grade officers (Lieutenants and Captain) and field grade officers (Major and Colonels). So, were the gilt shields for Majors up or were they reserved for General officers (I believe the Militia had Generals).

Hmmm... I had always thought there was a Securitate connection that went beyond the Interior Ministry association.

It appears the sites are in conflict... hey, it's a new country- there are bound to be questions. I'll keep my Moldavian SSR flag but call it a State Flag of the PMR now.

I hope that they choose not to adopt the Russian tricolour- not that I have anything at all against Russia (quite the contrary)- it's just that I would love to see the PMR develop into a small, autonomous, self-governing country unto itself. However, that's not for me to say; I don't live there.

I certainly don't doubt your source as I use them alot myself, but the latest date on the material is 2004. Apparently, things have changed since then and, according to the PMR website at:

http://pridnestrovie.net/flag_pmr.html

the official flag has no hammer and sickle and is proportioned 2X by 3X. Now, having said that, there are plenty of older Moldavian SSR flags that are seen and not just when carried by one of the two Communist Parties in the PMR. Occassionally you can see them in a story carried by the Olviya Press (day-to-day news in the PMR). My guess insofar as the pins are concerned is that the flag has been changed since the pins were produced.

Even though the hammer and sickle has been romoved from the flag, it is still seen on the State seal and, consequently, on all 5 coins currently used and many of the medals and badges, as has been shown.

The backs for the flags is a flat texture while the shield is a reverse image. All use a "military clutch" to secure. The only mint mark I can find is on the back of the 10 year flag and, I believe, is from the Leningrad MD.

Picked up three lapel pins/badges from Pridnestrovie recently. All have an official connotation as they were/are given to government officials. The pin at the top left is to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Pridnestrovie and the pin below that is to commemorate the 15th Anniversary. The pin to the right is for Central Management of Ministry of Internal Affairs PMR and has a deep green transparent enamel on the shield. Just as a reminder, the PMR on the pins is an abbreviation for Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica. A dime (US 0.10) is included to give an idea of size. The odd thing here is that both flags contain the hammer and sickle, while the official country flag does not.

Bifter,

First, regarding the Hero of Labour; a bit over $100 US is about right for the gilded brass version if it's an RSR ('65-'89) version. The RPR will cost more; maybe around $150-175 US.

There are four (4) versions of the Defense of the Motherland; two RPR ('47-65) and two RSR ('66-'89) versions. They are identified by differences in the State seal:

1. Rare is the RPR seal without the star above ('47-'50). This is, as far as I can tell, the only award to have this particular version of the State seal on it.

2. Rare is the RPR seal with the star above ('50-'65)

3. Most common is the RSR seal that reads "RSR" in the banner ('66-'89)

4. Rarest is the RSR seal that reads "Romania" in the banner- last version ('89).

The going price for #1, 2 and 3 above, in a 1st Class, is anywhere from $125-175 US.

The 3rd Class for $250 US is over priced... these go for $75- $95 US on any given day.

Hope this helps.

Greg

Great stuff, Taras! Thanks for joining the thread.

Going back to post #3 in this thread: the USS New Jersey BB-62 was in Beirut in 1983. A total of 288 16" rounds were fired. I was on the crew of the New Jersey and rode her from recommissioning to Beirut. She continues to be the most decorated ship in the Navy.

The successful (ahead of schedule and under budget) recommissioning of the New Jersey prompted the recommissioning of her three other sisters, recommissioned in this order: USS Iowa BB-61, USS Missouri BB-63 and the USS Wisconsin BB-64. All are now decommissioned with three- the New Jersey (Camden Yard), the Missouri (Pearl Harbor) and the Wisconsin (Norfolk)- kept in a "ready" state as museums. I'm unsure about the status of the Iowa. If you'll remember, there was an accident which blew the magazine on one of the forward turrets killing 48 sailors back in the '90's. The initial story was some weird concoction involving some contrived homosexual affair... all crap... turns out it was old and bad powder- probably WW II vintage (refer back to the "under budget").

All politics and the Reagan bureaucracy aside, she was a magnificent ship; beautiful lines, sat nicely in the water and incredibly fast considering her 48,000 ton displacement. We walked away from our escorts when we had to get somewhere quickly. I was fortunate to have served aboard her.

I could be, as my G+... Grandfather was a Sergeant in the 1st Virginia Militia but, to tell you the truth, my interest in joining anything at present is on the low side.

And the back...

And the final submission, for now, 15 years of Department of Internal Affairs of Tiraspol (the capital). Brass, full reverse with Soviet style pin back. The light blue "wave" between the red and green on the banner ends mimics the Tiraspol seal. No data on the run amount of this badge.

And the back with nut:

Next, the 15 years UBOP Ministry of Internal Affairs, PMR (Department for the Struggle against Organized Crime). Kiev manufacture and with a run of 100 pieces. Two piece construction, flat backed. Heavy, white alloy.

Struck in brass with full reverse, screw back and plain nut:

Recently acquired a few fairly rare badges from Pridnestrovie. The first is of a Soviet design we're all familiar with, the Honours Policeman of Militia of Ministry of Internal Affairs, PMR. This particular variation, with areas of enamel within the State seal, is for senior management and had a run of 100 pieces. The regular issue was the same but without the enamel in the State seal.

Rick,

The convention/centennial and Army of... medals did not come with certificates. The rest did, although it will take me some time to find them (they're here somewhere, I just know it).

Ulsterman,

It's my award and it was not engraved by the Chapter (the MOS&B basic unit is the Chapter) that presented it. I guess I could have had it engraved if I wanted to.

I served in Beirut (which ended my Navy career, unfortunately); the SCV grouped Iran and Beirut together for the purposes of this award.

A medal from an earlier (1979) convention held in Fredericksburg, VA. Conventions are held yearly, with a Camp requesting, and being chosen, to sponsor these events. Hence, the convention is in a different location every year.

A detail of the Centennial Convention Medal, designed by Henry Kidd of Petersburg, VA.

Conventions are noted for producing medals, some of which become quite rare and valuable over time. Here is a group of three medals produced during the SCV's Centennial in 1996. The first (from the left) was produced by the Texas Division, the center was the official SCV Centennial Convention Medal (held in Richmond, VA), and the last medal is the general SCV Centennial Medal (which is numbered on the back). These are all from very limited runs.

As I've said, the basic unit of the SCV is the camp (local club). Camps are organized into Brigades (each state has several according to both population and geography). Brigades are organized into Divisions according to the state they're in, and Divisions are organized into one of three Armys (Northern Virginia, Tennessee or the Trans Mississippi). Here is (from the left) a Mississippi Division medal, a Maryland Division medal and an Army of Northern Virginia Medal. Note the Virginia Division insignia attached to the Army of Northern Virginia medal.

A detail of the organizational logos:

The SCV and MOS&B also produces medals which are badges of office as well as for general membership. Some of these are featured here. From the left: SCV Brigade Commander (with star indicating Past Brigade Commander), SCV Camp Commander (the Camp is the basic unit of the SCV), SCV Past Camp Adjutant, SCV General Member, and MOS&B General Member:

And the back:

Next, the Military Order of the Stars and Bars (MOS&B) War Service Cross:

And the back: