Russian Federation Order of People's Friendship

[Megan]

Орден Дружбы народов

Instituted: 1992, to replace the USSR Order of Friendship of People.

Discontinued: 1994 (replaced by the Order of Friendship).

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237055284.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237055317.jpg

Edited March 14, 2009 by Megan

[Paul R]

Is this for real? Why would they make this particular variation(with the hammer and sickle)?

[Megan]

Here's the Soviet version for comparison:

[Alex K]

Орден Дружбы народов

Instituted: 1992, to replace the USSR Order of Friendship of People.

Discontinued: 1994 (replaced by the Order of Friendship).

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237055284.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-1530-1237055317.jpg

Interesting that despite it being post-soviet, it appears to still have the hammer & sickle on the obverse.

Alex K

[Guest Rick Research]

Red stars... hammers and sickles... crowned Romanov eagles... very very psychologically confused messages being sent there.

I can understand the persistence of the star... but being old enough to remember people for whom the ROMANOV eagle was as loathed and HATED an emblem as the Nazi eagle-swastika... I just can't get over THAT being used everywhere as the emblem of the new FEDERATION. People yet live who can remember the JOY with which those mutant birds were ripped off buildings and smashed to pieces.

Weird.

[TacHel]

I would've understood better myself had they opted for the double headed eagle without the royal crowns (with scepter and orb). It seems they never really gave it much thought and simply reverted to pre-communist heraldic emblems.

The badge below is the cap badge for the border service's air component, to me, it makes "a bit" more sense.

[Paul R]

Is this award officially verified anywhere?

[Megan]

Official Russian award site - http://award.adm.gov.ru/orden/orden_14.htm

[Paul R]

Official Russian award site - http://award.adm.gov.ru/orden/orden_14.htm

Thanks Megan. I am just perplexed about the use of the hammer and sickle in the post Soviet version of the awards.

[TacHel]

Thanks Megan. I am just perplexed about the use of the hammer and sickle in the post Soviet version of the awards.

You have to understand this particular award was a short lived transitional design and is no longer awarded. There's a new Order of Friendship. Also, the original Soviet design had the center portion with the hammer and sickle in colour, the transitional design has no colour to these symbols.