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Established 1 August 1924.This was the first Soviet order. Awarded to military personnel of the Soviet Army and Navy who display exceptional courage, self-denial, and valor during combat. The Order of the Red Banner originally appeared in 1918, as the Order of the Red Banner of the Russian Federation. The award was offered to citizens of the Republic for exceptional military service. Other Soviet Republics followed Russia and issued their own version of the award. Azerbaijan was the first with the Order of the Red Banner of the Azerbaijan SSR. After the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922, the country's all-union military decoration became the Order of the Red Banner. Earlier awards distributed by each of the Soviet Republics were allowed to be kept by their recipients. It was decided these awards had great historic significance as they were awarded during the Civil War, and served as reminders of heroic events.
The Order of the Red Banner has been awarded to various Soviet naval units for exemplary service in wartime. The Baltic Fleet was cited for its role in the Revolution of 1917, and all four fleets (Northern, Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific) and the Caspian Naval Flotilla were cited for their service in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). The Baltic Fleet is formally referred to as theTwice-Honored Red Banner Baltic Fleet.(1) |
Type 1, Screwback, "Mirror Reverse"
Awarded 1933-1943 |
S/N Range |
Year |
Mint |
|
Notes |
1-8465 |
1932 |
Leningrad |
 |
|
8466-20006 |
1933 |
Leningrad |
 |
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|
 |
approximate serial number range:
#1 - #170.
Serial number range observed:
#7 - #163. |
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Without a flat space on reverse for serial number. Hand-engraved number on the upper left edge of the reverse. 32mm screwplate.
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approximate serial number range:
#170 - #20006.
Serial number range observed:
#174 - #19897. |
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With a flat space on reverse for serial number. Very early pieces had hand-engraved numbers, later used stamped numbers. 32mm screwplate.
detail pic
Converted into a 5-sided suspension to adhere to post-1945 regulations.
detail pic |
 |
Approximate serial number range:
#170 - #360.
Serial number range observed:
#174 - #258. |
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Variation 2
Subvariation 1
(T1V2SV1) |
R5 |
With a flat space on reverse for serial number. Hand-engraved number. 32mm screwplate. |
 |
Approximate serial number range:
#360 - #8464.
Serial number range observed:
#365 - #8194. |
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Variation 2
Subvariation 2
(T1V2SV2) |
R4 |
With a flat space on reverse for serial number. Stamped number. 32mm screwplate. Differences in size, shape, and minor details
observed in this subvariation. 32mm screwplate. |
 |
Approximate serial number range:
#8466 - #20006.
Serial number range observed:
#8592 - #19897. |
|
Variation 2
Subvariation 3
(T1V2SV3) |
R4 |
Stamped number. Clearly defined "counter relief". clearly defined
and slightly indented space for serial number. 28mm screwplate. |
Type 2, Screwback, "Smooth Reverse"
Awarded 1938-1944 |
S/N Range |
Year |
Mint |
|
Notes |
20007-21008 |
1938 |
Leningrad |
 |
|
21009-22488 |
1940 |
Leningrad |
 |
|
22489-24092 |
1941 |
Leningrad |
 |
|
24093-25550 |
1941 |
Krasnodar |
 |
Assembled from parts brought from Leningrad Mint, December 1941. |
25551-55000 |
1942 |
Krasnodar |
 |
|
55001-60000 |
---- |
Krasnodar |
 |
Never produced for reasons unknown.
|
60001-66975 |
1942 |
Krasnodar |
 |
|
66976-74125 |
1943 |
Krasnodar |
 |
|
71225-71227 |
---- |
Krasnodar |
 |
Never awarded; returned to mint. |
71229-71251 |
---- |
Krasnodar |
 |
Never awarded; returned to mint. |
74126-74275 |
1943 |
Krasnodar |
 |
Converted to suspension, December 1943. |
74276-84250 |
1943 |
Krasnodar |
 |
|
77453-84250 |
---- |
Krasnodar |
 |
Sent to Moscow Mint for conversion to suspension. |
79826-84250 |
---- |
Moscow |
 |
Converted to "dove tail" suspensions. |
|
 |
Approximate serial number range:
#20007 - #21108.
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MONDVOR mint mark. МОНДВОР stamped below screwpost.
|
 |
Serial number range observed:
#20029 - #20218. |
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Variation 1
Subvariation 1
(T2V1SV1) |
R4 |
MONDVOR mint mark. МОНДВОР hand engraved on the upper edge. |
 |
Serial number range observed:
#20250 - #20689. |
|
Variation 1
Subvariation 2
(T2V1SV2) |
R4 |
MONDVOR mint mark. МОНДВОР stamped below screwpost, below the serial number. |
 |
Serial number range observed:
#20979 - #21108. |
|
Variation 1
Subvariation 3
(T2V1SV3) |
R4 |
MONDVOR mint mark. МОНДВОР stamped below screwpost, above the serial number. NOTE: #20135 in this sub-variation doesn't have a mint-mark. #20244 has serial number stamped at 11 o'clock position. |
 |
Approximate serial number range:
#21109 - #25550.
Serial number range observed:
#21211 - #25458.
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MONETNIY DVOR mint mark. МОНЕТНЫЙ ДВОР stamped below screwpost, single line, two separate stamps. NOTE: #24093 - #25550 were assembled by Krasnodar Mint from parts brought from Leningrad Mint. |
 |
Serial number range observed:
#25874 - #77427.
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MONETNIY DVOR mint mark. МОНЕТНЫЙ ДВОР stamped below screwpost, single line, two separate stamps. Flat reverse. |
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Serial number range observed:
#25874 - #68600.
|
|
Variation 3
Subvariation 1
(T3V3SV1) |
R4 |
MONETNIY DVOR mint mark. МОНЕТНЫЙ ДВОР stamped below screwpost, single line, two separate stamps. Flat reverse. МОНЕТНЫЙ in the mint mark is slightly concave. |
 |
Serial number range observed:
#25874 - #77427.
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|
Variation 3
Subvariation 2
(T3V3SV2) |
R4 |
MONETNIY DVOR mint mark. МОНЕТНЫЙ ДВОР stamped below screwpost, single line, two separate stamps. Flat reverse. МОНЕТНЫЙ in the mint mark is slightly concave, and letters in ДВОР become smaller from Д to Р. |
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End of New Information |
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Type 2 Variation 1 R4 |
Screwback. Mint mark stamped below screwpost. Hand engraved serial number.
detail pic |
Type 2 Variation 1 (engraved mintmark) R5 |
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Screwback. Mint mark hand-engraved below screwpost. Hand engraved serial number.
detail pic |
Type 2 Variation 1 (early transitional) R? |
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Screwback. Mint mark stamped above screwpost. VERY RARE. Hand engraved serial number. Early Transitional variation.
detail pic |
Type 2 Variation 1 (2nd Award) R5 |
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Screwback. 2nd Awarding. VERY RARE. Mint mark
stamped below screwpost. Hand engraved or stamped serial number.
detail pic |
Type 2 Variation 1 (3rd Award) R5 |
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Screwback. 3rd Awarding. VERY RARE. Mint mark
stamped below screwpost. Hand engraved or stamped serial number. |
Type 2 Variation 2 R2 |
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Screwback. Mint mark
stamped below screwpost on one line. Hand engraved serial number.
detail pic |
Type 2 Variation 2 (2nd Award) R4 |
 |
Screwback. 2nd Awarding. RARE. Mint mark stamped below screwpost on one line. Hand engraved serial number.
detail pic
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Type 2 Variation 2 (3rd Award) R5 |
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Screwback. 3rd Awarding. VERY RARE. Mint mark stamped below screwpost on one line. Hand engraved serial number.
detail pic |
Type 2 Variation 2 (4th Award) R5 |
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Screwback. 4th Awarding. EXTREMELY RARE. Paul McDaniel speculates less than 200 were manufactured. None have been observed.
Mint mark

stamped below screwpost on one line. Hand engraved serial number. |
Type 3 Variation 1 R1 |
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5 sided suspension. "Circular". Star-reverse. Mint mark

struck separately in straight line. Hand-engraved serial number. Reverse has deep contours which follow the obverse.
full obverse pic
detail pic |
Type 3 Variation 1 (5th Award) R5 |
 |
5 sided suspension. "Circular". VERY RARE. Star-reverse. Mint mark 
struck separately in straight line. Hand-engraved serial number. Reverse has deep contours which follow the obverse. NOTE: This specimen has been authenticated.
full obverse pic
detail pic |
Type 3 Variation 2 R1 |
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5 sided suspension. "Circular". Mint mark
struck separately on curved line. Hand-engraved serial number. Reverse has less detail than variation 1. Observed with small mint marks and large mint marks.
full obverse pic
detail pic |
Type 3 Variation 3 R1 |
|
5-sided suspension. "Circular". Mint mark
struck separately in straight line. Mint mark is same as Type 3 Variation 1. This variation has a much "flatter" reverse contour. There is a slight overlap with T3V2 serial numbers.
full obverse pic
detail pic
Detail image showing a re-issue for a Type 2 award
detail pic |
Type 3 Variation 4 R1 |
|
5-sided suspension. "Circular". Mint mark
stamped on two lines. Contours on back are similar to variation 1, "Star Reverse".
full obverse pic
detail pic |
Type 3 Variation 4 (6th Award) R1 |
 |
5-sided suspension. "Circular". EXTREMELY RARE. Mint mark
stamped on two lines. Contours on back are similar to variation 1, "Star Reverse". NOTE: This specimen has been authenticated.
full obverse pic
detail pic |
Type 3 (2nd Award) R2 |
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Type 3 (3rd Award) R3 |
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Type 3 (4th Award) R4 |
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5-sided suspension. "Circular". 4th Awarding. Serial number #207 only specimen observed was a variation 1 by Paul McDaniel. RARE. |
Type 3 (5th Award) R5 |
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5-sided suspension. "Circular". 5th Awarding. Serial number #92 only specimen observed by Paul McDaniel. VERY RARE. |
Type 4 R1 |
|
5 sided suspension. "Oval".
Mint mark
struck on two lines. Hand-engraved serial number. No major variations.
full obverse pic
detail pic |
Type 4 (2nd Award) R2 |
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5 sided suspension. "Oval". 2nd Awarding. Mint mark

struck on two lines. Hand-engraved serial number. No major variations.
full obverse pic
detail pic |
Type 4 (3rd Award) R3 |
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5 sided suspension. "Oval". 3rd Awarding. Mint mark

struck on two lines. Hand-engraved serial number. No major variations. |
Type 4 (4th Award) R4 |
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5 sided suspension. "Oval". 4th Awarding. Mint mark

struck on two lines. Hand-engraved serial number. No major variations.
full obverse pic
detail pic |
Type 4 (5th Award) R5 |
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5 sided suspension. "Oval". 5th Awarding. RARE.
Mint mark struck on two lines. Hand-engraved serial number. No major variations.
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Type 4 (6th Award) R5 |
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5 sided suspension. "Oval". 6th Awarding. EXTREMELY RARE. Mint mark
struck on two lines. Hand-engraved serial number. No major variations. NOTE: This specimen has been authenticated.
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Type 4 (7th Award) |
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7th awards were actually produced by the Leningrad Mint in 1954, and were awarded in 1964-1991. Serial numbers in the 1-8 range were observed. There are documents, suggesting that there were 50 more pieces ordered in 1970, but this information was never confirmed.(2)
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