Soviet Question about a Soviet badge

[Garth Thompson]

What is this soviet badge? It is about 1.5" in diameter, screwback and numbered.
TIA.
Garth

[paul wood]

It's a City of Moscow excellence badge, not having my Russian dictionary to hand I quite make out a translation for the righthand word. Unless Nick has forgotten his native tongue he should be able to give you an answer. It certainly looks pre WWII and I haven't handled one before.

Pavel Nicholiev

[Garth Thompson]

Pavel, Thanks for the reply. Garth

[Aurelius]

Looks very old also.

[paul wood]

City of Moscow Economic Excellence Badge

Paul

[redoctober]

Its nice,

Any chance of a shot without the screwplate?

Tom

[JapanX]

City of Moscow Economic Excellence Badge

Paul

More like

"High achiver of municipal economy of Moscow"

This badge was established in 1940.

Between 1940 and 1941 it was issued in silver.

After 1941 badges were made in bronze.

[paul wood]

Cheers Nick,

I wish my knowledge of Russian was a 10th as good as your knowledge of English. I can often work out Russian words but the grammar is a bit like a supermodel's bedroom, way beyond my reach.

Paul

[JapanX]

... but the grammar is a bit like a supermodel's bedroom, way beyond my reach.

Many "modern" russians have the same problem

By the way, what do you think about adequate translation of this russian word "отличник"?

Essentially отличник is the student obtaining "excellent" marks.

According to the modern russian-english dictionary отличник = high achiever.

But of course student obtaining "excellent" marks is "excellent student"

Another possible variant - exemplary (student, worker, etc ...)

[paul wood]

I had always translated "отличник"? as excellent but I must admit exemplary sounds better.

Paul

[JapanX]

Looks like you are not a big fan of " high achiever" variant

Cheers,

Nick

[JapanX]

Found the exact date

This badge was established on July 6, 1940 by the СНК СССР (СНК, a.k.a. Совнарком) - Council of People's Commissars) order #1178.

The size of the badge (approximately) is 29×27 mm.

It was believed (for some time) that bronze version of the badge was a trial piece. But not anymore ;)

[paul wood]

Looks like you are not a big fan of " high achiever" variant

High Achiever is something you would expect of a McDonald's or other US corporate employees and it usually comes with a silly hat or badge. Mind you a friend of mine did his philosophy degree doped out of his head and got a first so I suppose he would have been a high achiever. Exemplary means that your achievement is an example to others to seek to emulate, very much in line with good Marxist-Leninist philosophy

Comrade Paul exemplary beer drinker.

[JapanX]

Comrade Paul exemplary beer drinker.

:cheers:

[Ferdinand]

I don't think "high achiever" or "exemplary" are suitable here... Excellence (excellent) or distinguished (distinction) are better translations if you ask me.

[JapanX]

... Excellence (excellent) or distinguished (distinction) are better translations if you ask me.

I am not sure about that dear Ferdinand

The closest synonyms to distinguished will be remarkable, eminent, famous, renowned, celebrated, outstanding.

The closest synonyms to excellent will be choice, first-class, first-rate, prime, select.

Of course excellent grade will be translated as отличная оценка

But distinguished is more like выдающийся...

[Ferdinand]

Sorry, but I don't agree with you there.

But let's keep in mind that all translations are approximations, and that there is not one definitive answer... Give this line to ten fine translators and you will get ten different, but fine translations.

Edited April 30, 2013 by Ferdinand

[JapanX]

... Give this line to ten fine translators and you will get ten different, but fine translations.

Or even twelve :)

[paul wood]

Translation is always an approximate art, with the exception of profanities which tend to translate well, which is probably why I am able to swear fluently in several languages but can barely speak a comprehensible sentence in any of them.

Paul

[paul wood]

Portrait of yours truly before being awarded exemplary Beer Drinkers award

PAul

[JapanX]

"High achiver"?

"Exemplary"?

"Distinguished"?

Naaaa

You look like a stout Сhamp!!!

[JapanX]

Additional examples of silver badges

[JapanX]

№ 1406

[JapanX]

Screw

[JapanX]

№ 1459