Order "For Distinguished Labour In Mining And Geology".

[medals73]

Order “For Distinguished Labor in Mining and Geology” / Urdhëri “Për punë të shquar në miniera dhe në gjeologji”, 3rd class, type 1, var. 1

The order was created on 18 January 1965 in two classes. This third class in bronze was added in 1980. Made in Tiranë.

(Schena, 3rd ed., #26, pp. 100-2; Lame, #149, pp. 160-63.)

[CtahhR]

Here is a Type 2 2nd Class. With a jauntily angled clasp it is exceptionally difficult to keep this at the correct angle during wear.

[Al-muell]

As a general comment I have to say that Yugoslav cap badge for the EM/NCO was much better made than most Albanian orders.

[CtahhR]

The majority of Albanian awards are of an exceptionally poor quality if the Soviet Mint is seen as par. The quality slowly started to decline in the 1950's but after their split from most of the world the quality took a severe downward spiral. Awards from the 1960's onwards are cheap looking and feeling, which along with their large stocks of unussued examples is reflected in their lack of appeal. The pinback Orders are almost all very poor quality and those instituted during the "pinback era" started out being fairly crude quality and often ended up of a dire quality. Any award with the vertical pin attachment is a sure sign of poor, disappointing quality late construction. I'd equate many of them to milk bottle tops in quality and style. Some later PSRA awards were made in the Khmer Republic who had rather different quality control to the LMD or MMD.

Ribbons were always of a reasonable quality.

Here is a Type 1 1st Class.