Albania Order and Medal for the Maintenance of Public Security

[Bob]

Post pics please:)

[Eric Schena]

The Order for Maintenance of Public Security wasmostly awarded to members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its three principle branches, police, border guards, and Directorate of State Security (the dreaded Sigurimi), who have performed valuable service to the preservation of public order.

Edited June 19, 2006 by Eric Schena

[Guest Rick Research]

That is very CHINESE looking construction-- both the finish and the characteristic "tube" for the pin.

Could this have been made in China during the ever changing Communist Albanian alliances?

[Eric Schena]

Hi Rick:

I originally thought that, too, however, a friend in Germany who collects all sorts of Eastern Bloc medals went to Albania for regular visits in the early 1990's and actually visited the factory in Tiran? where these things were made and he says that this style of construction is very much a product from that factory. In the years between the first true democratic election in 1992 when the PPSh lost its bid for power and 1996 when Sali Berisha pretty much severed all ties to the old style government, the communist era decorations were still being awarded. What the factory workers told my friend (as he was looking through boxes of unawarded decorations) was that they simply filed off the stars and other communist symbols off the old decorations - which happened to be ones like these late ones with the tube pin assemblies and those decorations were fresh off the presses. Sadly, my friend did not take photos of the factory (oh, how I wish he did ).

One thing of interest regarding these barrel pins: at some point in the 1980's, the factory (for reasons unbeknownst to anyone) switched from horizontal to vertical, so if you see a vertical one, it's probably a later piece. That said, I am not sure if this design change was carried over to every decoration.

Cheers,

Eric

[albania]

THIS IS THE MEDAL. IN THE BACK IT WRITES

FOR MAINTENACE OF PUBLIC SECURITY

[Bob]

Here's a very used one!

[Ed_Haynes]

Nice. Clearly, not something out of unissued stocks!

[Elmar Lang]

Hmmm... I think I've seen Bob's fine piece already...

Enzo