Republic of Cuba Distinci?n "Carlos Bali?o"

[Stogieman]

Distinci?n "Carlos Bali?o". Awarded for 25 years of service to the tobacco industry.

Ribbon example below:

[Stogieman]

Example of an award document in two styles, covers:

[Stogieman]

Interiors, both styles:

[IVB]

This picture was founded on the auction website some time ago:

But this is not Distincion "Carlos Balino", I think. What is it? May be pre-Castro variant?

[Taz]

99.9% certain pre-Castro. Probably a commemorative, maybe even not official award. The modern version would have an SNT Trade Union logo on the reverse. Also the Medal ring is not suited for a pentagonal suspension devices.

The obverse is almost exactly the same as the modern Distinction apart from the wording "Orden".

Regards Eddie

Edited April 21, 2008 by Taz

[Taz]

Just in today, the Castro version.

[Guest Rick Research]

Eddie, you are on a ROLL here, with never seen yet medals!

[Ulsterman]

awesome!! A Stogiemedal!

It should be on the cover of Cigar Afficienado" magazine.

[Taz]

This picture was founded on the auction website some time ago:

But this is not Distincion "Carlos Balino", I think. What is it? May be pre-Castro variant?

Apparantly these awards are the early version Distinciones ("Ordenes") awarded between 1959 -1979.

Regards Eddie.

Edited December 12, 2008 by Taz

[Taz]

The reverse