Hungary Box for hungarian order

[Rodion]

Gentlemen,

Who can tell me this nice box (I bought in Budapest in 1995) was made for ?

The diameter ot the medal is 5,5 cm

Best regerds

Rodion

[hunyadi]

Judging from the shape and the colors (deep red wine color and the rounded edges) I would say that its for one of the higher state awards. Can you give a photo of the bottom and the top of the box. That can add some clues as to when it was made.

Looking at the "Large Hungarian Medals Book" I would guess that it housed the Hungarian Peoples Republic Order of the Flag 5th Class as this order was 50mm in diameter. None of the other ODMs of the period are that large and suspended by a trifold. This order was instituted in 1963 and was awarded 19 times

Edited April 26, 2007 by hunyadi

[Zsolt]

Gentlemen,

Who can tell me this nice box (I bought in Budapest in 1995) was made for ?

The diameter ot the medal is 5,5 cm

Best regerds

Rodion

Hi, Rodion !

The 5,5 cm is real? It seems to me that too large! The diameter of the largest hungarian medal is 50 mm.

Regards: Zsolt

[hunyadi]

It may be a bit "mis-measured" - the other thing I notice about this box is that there was probably never a medal in it. Look at the indentation on the lid - its a direct reverse. Its been empty for a long time. Probably a box that MAP had left over and sold out.

[Rodion]

It may be a bit "mis-measured" - the other thing I notice about this box is that there was probably never a medal in it. Look at the indentation on the lid - its a direct reverse. Its been empty for a long time. Probably a box that MAP had left over and sold out.

For the diameter, yes, it was a mistake, it is 50 mm and here are more scan

[Rodion]

Front

[Rodion]

rear

[hunyadi]

my guess still remaines that it was for the Hungarian Peoples Republic Order of the Flag 5th Class.

[Rodion]

Many thanks for your help Hunyadi !

[Gordon Craig]

Rodion,

I agree with Hunyadi on your box. I would also say it was for an early issue of the Flag Order 5th Class. Th early issue boxes are a brighter red than the later ones which have more of a maroon colour to them. The early boxes also have more rounded corners than the later ones. I would also say that there has never been an award in this box. I've posted pictures of the award and box for the Falg Order 5th Class from my collection for your reference purposes.

Regards,

Gordon

Edited April 30, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

The top of the box.

[Rodion]

The top of the box.

Gordon,

Many thanks for the pictures.

Before your post I was thinking thzt il could be a large medal I saw in a book : socialist Hungary order of Merit ( A Szocialista Magyarorzagert Erdemrend) ?

Rodion

[hunyadi]

Hi Rodion -

The Socialist Hungary Order of Merit - A Szocialista Magyarorzagert Erdemrend is 45mm in diameter. Generally the recess for the medals have a good fit. 5mm is a bit loose for one of the higher state medals. Also the only examples that I have seen (one of them being atributed to Csanadi Arpad an Olympian medal winner - gold??) for the Socialist Hungary Order of Merit came in a white lined box with the wine red box cover. However - the fit of medals is not always perfect. In many of the lower medals the case was made to accept 38mm medals as a standard. Of course some were made smaller and some were made bigger - then at the factory they just stuffed them in, but this does not generally occur with the higher awards.

[Gordon Craig]

Rodion,

For comparison here is a picture of my cased Order of Merit for the Socialist Hungary. As Hunyadi says, the medal is a very tight fit. The interior of the case is white. The blue tinge to it in the photo is because I did not use a flash to prevent reflection from the award itself. This is a late style case with the painted exterior but the interior maintained its high finish.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

A close up of the award showing the exact fit in the case.

[Gordon Craig]

The exterior of the case.

[Gordon Craig]

Here is a picture of an early case for a Flag Order that sold on ebay last year for more then it was worth so I do not own it. It should illustrate the difference in colour between the early Flag Order cases and the later ones. Note the similarity to your case. An interior with a red bottom and a white top.

Rgeards,

Gordon

Edited May 3, 2007 by Gordon Craig