Soviet Authenticity questions

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

...and another one

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Mint "voenkomat"

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Gee-up!

[Eric Gaumann]

Pretty obvious one

Yes, the obvious ones I can recognize. But when it comes to leaves or berries, letter fonts, the edges and the texture(?) of the obverse I can only guess without somebody pointing out the faults.

The ring is generally the only part that I can recognize as good or dubious.

[Eric Gaumann]

I like this one, do you?

The front looks very strong, the reverse is maybe a bit soft.

[JapanX]

Looks like ok Belgrade from 1947-1948.

So called "shovel" variant.

[Eric Gaumann]

Thanks! While I'd prefer a T1 I think I could live with this Type.

Trouble is the seller is, at the moment, not accepting returns.

[JapanX]

But "shovel" is more rare than first type (which was issued even in 1946)

[Eric Gaumann]

But "shovel" is more rare than first type (which was issued even in 1946)

I know. I see all those 'speculators' on Aukro with their Shovel Braverys and CSMs and silver labour medals priced at twice the usual price just because they are "rare". I don't buy it.

[JapanX]

I don't buy it

Good.

Cause I don't sell anything.

Shovel is simply more rare ...

It's a fact! ;)

Edited August 8, 2013 by JapanX

[Chris Boonzaier]

A question that crosses all collecting fields... at which point does "earlier model and slightly more sought after" become "Rare and worth much more" ?

best

Chris

[Rogi]

A question that crosses all collecting fields... at which point does "earlier model and slightly more sought after" become "Rare and worth much more" ?

best

Chris

When people are willing to pay more..

[Greg Collins]

At that point that someone is willing to pay more for it. These items we collect are, in cold reality, only worth their smelt value. Which, essentially, means a Belgrade or Odessa is worth about 3 cents. The remaining "worth" (value) of an award is what we're willing to pay above and beyond the smelt value. Of course a Lenin will be worth more due to gold and platinum content, but the smelt value is nowhere near the collector value of the award. And, when you get right down to it, the "market" even decides the smelt value. Gold, after all, is just a rock that we've decided is worth a lot of money.

[JapanX]

I see you guys like to philosophize ...

[Greg Collins]

Well Nick, yeah, I guess... philosophizing makes me feel better when parts of my collection seem to go down in value... helps me hold on because I know that, if I let things run full circle, they'll be back up in value... if I wait long enough... I guess...

[JapanX]

Circle?!

[Greg Collins]

Ok, ok, you caught me writing in the vernacular. What I mean is that, at times, certain items seem to fall out of favour with collectors or, perhaps, because of what they are, are just not what collectors are looking for at that moment in time... even though they may be quite rare. But, often enough, if you wait awhile and hold on to what you have, you may find the collector market turns (circle) in your favour. I found this to be true regarding the Mongolian end of my collection. When I began, no one seemed to want or particularly care about Mongolian items. Boy, did that change!

[JapanX]

What I meant by "Circle?! + beautiful (special collectors issue ) smiley" is that this "for awhile" might be slowly lowering line rather than circle ;)