"Wearer's Copies" of the Gold Star Medal. Fact or Fiction?
by Henry Sakaida & A. Bates

Henry decided he would visit the administrative building of the Kiev War Memorial and ask the director for their opinion. After presenting her with a few gifts he had brought, he asked her about official copies. She said explicitly: "Yes, it is true. There was an official government copy which was presented to all Heroes." I showed her a copy which I had brought from home, and she examined it thoroughly, nodded her head and repeated, "Yes, I say again, there was an official copy given with each original Hero

LEFT: Copies of the Gold Star Medal on display at the Kiev War Museum, awarded to Ukrainian Partisan leader, General Sidor Kovpak. Despite the museum guide's insistence on authenticity, these were clearly copies. BELOW: A well made modern fake currently being manufactured in Russia and sometimes sold as a "wearer's copy" and sometimes sold as an authentic award. Despite trying hard to look as an original, it is missing gold plating on the suspension plate and nut, and the screwback plate.

Star." At my first interview with Mariya Dolina, she said there was none! Could it be there was an official copy given much later, perhaps during the 1960's as some collectors believe? So when we went back again, Maj. Dolina explained, "During the Great Patriotic War, there was NO copies given...you only received one original. Later on, it was common for the Heroines to have someone make a copy for them. Mine was custom made. It is poor quality. Perhaps later on, the government gave out copies, but at least during my era, no such copies were given!" Incidentally, she was very impressed with my copy and asked me to trade! I was dumbstruck! She had phoned this proposal to my friend after we returned to his apartment. That made my trip! But when I visited the museum at Krasny Luch and saw a display inside the museum to Lydia Litvyak, I thought, " No! I can't be selfish and take Dolina's copy home with me! It will only disappear into my gun safe. Her copy belongs here, in the museum of her best friend, to be seen and enjoyed by all! It wasn't a hard decision to make. So on October 24, the day before I left Ukraine, we went back to make our report to her. She was surprised at my decision! I asked for her approval, and she said, "Of course!!! Yes!!! It is a great idea!!!" She had tears in her eyes! So when Maj. Dolina's health improves she will personally deliver her copy to the Lydia Litvyak Museum in Krasny Luch, the museum in honor of her old friend. With a cheerful goodbye and a nice invitation to come back and visit, it was time to return home with this part of the book research completed. No solid answer to the question about official copies of the Hero medal had been found. A few days after his return, Henry decided to write a letter to the Moscow Mint with hopes they might shed some light on the subject.This reply was received:

Dear Mr. Sakaida,

My name is Vladimir Trunov and I am Chief Engineer of Moscow Mint.

First of all I would like to use this opportunity to thank you for your kind attention and confidence that you have accorded to our company.

In reply to your letter regarding some questions about the history of medals produced in Soviet Union please find enclosed the following information :

1. Saint-Petersbourg Mint had been producing the medal Hero of Soviet Union before the Second World War. Moscow Mint started to produce it in 1945.

2. In reference to the question concerning the Hero of Soviet Union medal copies, I inform you that Moscow Mint did not make the official replica of this medal. So there are no valid instructions of wearing this medal. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Moscow Mint wishes you, your family, and colleagues health, prosperity and success.

Yours faithfully,

V. Trunov

Chief Engineer.

The above letter seemed to have answered the question. However, if anyone can present officially documented evidence there was a mint-issued wearer's copy for the Gold Star Medal for Hero of the Soviet Union, please email me and I will be present the evidence in a follow-up article. The documented evidence supporting this counter-claim should be from an equally reputable government source as the above. At my discretion, this evidence may be forwarded to the Chief Engineer of the Moscow Mint for further study. -A. Bates

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