Order[s] of Glory III Class.

[ChrisKelly]

My small collection, including a miniature.  I wish I could get research on these medals.

 

[Ferdinand]

Nice collection. You can have these researched actually. Contact me or one of the other researchers on this forum.

[Eric Gaumann]

Nice group!  I'd like to know a little more about the mini OG3.  Never seen one of those before.

[Marcel B.]

I've also never seen such minis? Never even heard of these. Are these originally awarded mini orders or perhaps made by veterans themselves? What's the history behind these?

[ChrisKelly]

No idea.  I assume they're post - Great Patriotic War, and possibly 1960s - 1970s.  A few more I acquired:

 

[Wat05]

I see ‘Военный Знак’ which is a medal producer I have heard of. Usually abbreviated as ВоенЗнак. 

[Eric Gaumann]

> No idea.  I assume they're post - Great Patriotic War, and possibly 1960s - 1970s.  A few more I acquired:

 

OMG, those minis are awesome!  Those ribbon rosettes are also very reminiscent of the early Soviet era awards.

 

edit: Found the seller on ebay(US).  Sold out of New York City.  Marked as "original" and "hot baked enamel" both of which I am doubtful.

Edited November 20 by Eric Gaumann

[ChrisKelly]

I'm not sure who produced these miniatures, but I believe they are Russian made, and intended for veterans...  In other words, not fakes and reproductions to dupe collectors.  You're right...  They are "hot sellers" on ebay.

[Mondvor]

4 hours ago, ChrisKelly said:

I'm not sure who produced these miniatures, but I believe they are Russian made, and intended for veterans...  In other words, not fakes and reproductions to dupe collectors.  You're right...  They are "hot sellers" on ebay.

As a person who has been seen real Soviet veterans in 70th and 80th (both my grandfathers were WWII veterans as well) I can tell that miniature awards were not used among Soviet veterans. They were wearing either real awards on memorial holidays and special events or were using ribbons.

[ChrisKelly]

Just as an aside...  

 

Miniature medals have always been part of the West.  North Americans and Western Europeans wear miniature medals on super-extra-formal occasions [tuxedo/white tie/black tie/mess dress].  

 

In Western Europe, the tradition has been to wear full-sized medals on civilian attire.

 

Miniature medals are not customary to Eastern Europe.  Everyone, military and civilian, always wears full-sized awards and decorations.  I think this is also true in Asia.

 

The miniature awards in my collection are likely Russian/Eastern European manufacture, but are not "official" government issued awards, much like the German miniatures from the time of the Kaisers through the Bundesrepublik.  I thought they were neat.  Novelty, but still an interesting addition.

[Marcel B.]

I would like to see photos of veterans wearing these minis. I have not yet come across these to be honest and I am rather skeptical about these. As said above, veterans wore their full awards/medals plus the anniversary medals together with specific unit remembrance badges (front, army, regiment, etc etc). Plenty of photos from this. But never have I seen minis in wear.