"Crown Jewels"

[DougD]

Henry,

did you ever figure out who the 5XX HSU belonged to?

DD

[redstar_co]

My collection is relativley small
I currently own

Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3rd Type 1
Bogdan Khmelnitsky 3rd Type 2
Hero of Labor
Mirrored Red Banner 1/2
Red Banner screwback (WWII)
Alexandr Nevskiy 3/2
For Valor 1/1
For Military Merit 1/1

[Henry Sakaida]

It was awarded to a guy named Zinchenko...I'm writing this from my office and don't have the files with me. I tried to track down his next of kin, but no luck. So I guess I'll have to keep this one!

[CtahhR]

I suppose whatever items are anyone's "crown jewels" is completely down to personal opinion. I've certainly experienced different reactions to some of the items I've posted. Sometimes there is considerably more or considerably less interest in a particular item than I would expect. I'm sure most other contributing members will have had the same experience. Sometimes there can be so much personal excitement about a "special" item, that causes the poster to bounce off of the walls and ceiling for days, to receive a rather muted reception. Other times an item posted that maybe had the poster questioning the worthiness of bothering receives a wave of enthusiasm.

I'd like to encourage everyone to post everything, in detail, so that history can be the judge of what is "worthwhile". The more information, images and option for discussion of any related item is valid. Don't just sit on things - many times forum members can really add the the story of the item, specially with research opening up the way it has.

My own selection for items in the collection to be "crown jewels" is purely my own opinion and I'm sure anyone else would make a different selection. Most of what I believe could be construed as the better single items in the collection have been posted, there are many more groups to be posted though and maybe the occupation and story of those recipients will be most appealing to some.

Here is my personal choice for top ten "crown jewels" that have been posted so far (In no particular order). Money is not a key point here as many cost under the $200 "bar".

Honorary Title "Meritorious Worker Of The PMR". - A post-Soviet rarity of exceptional quality.
Title Of Distinction "Honoured Worker Of Rail Transport". - A fully researched first award of a State Title.
Medal For Military Merits #1. - The very first award of millions.
Hero Of Labour Type 1 Variation 1. - An exceptionally obscure example of a Soviet made Hero Title, loving well worn.
Order Of The National Flag 3rd Class. - An exceptionally early Soviet example with long and "combat" wear, not the lowest serial number in the collection by a long way.
Laureate Of The International Botev Prize - Solid and of extreme rarity.
Shalva Alekseevich Lobzhanidze Group - Exceptional in size and depth.
Vahtang Dmitrievich Dzemalashvili Group - 414th combat!
Vikentij Nikolaevich Dvali Group - Medic with a bullet!
Locomotive Engineer Artem Mihajlovich Abuashvili Group - Wartime plus Trains.

There are other items that didn't make the list, Order "Georgi Dimitrov" documented group (The fact it is separated from the Medals is disappointing), Orders Of Kim Il Sung (Quality is disappointing), Order "13 Centuries Of Bulgaria" (No document) and plenty more!

Don't be shy of posting your "crown jewels" (in the correct sections) and then link to them in this thread.