Large silver badge, very complex and must have been very difficult to make. I count 13 (!!!) pieces, plus the screw post and screw plate, as follows: 3 plates, 6 letters, two arrowheads, V device, 1-piece hammer & sickle. 3 rivets. The black enamel is not high quality and the black on the back looks kind of like a hot dip of some sort. There are no hallmarks. Letters, center devices and arrowheads appear to be solid gold.
It is pretty clear that this was a Georgian Workers and Peoples Militia five-year jubilee badge, circa 1926, most likely only for senior officials and officers. This is not a run-of-the-mill piece for the ordinary workers. It is likely a locally commissioned piece and issued in very small numbers. My MVD and historian buddy estimates 20-40 pieces in all, perhaps fewer.
I believe that this piece is uncatalogued and unknown in the west. There are unlikely to be more than a handful of surviving examples.
"Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none." Benjamin Franklin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Member #193
My pleasure. Sharing is one of the things that makes collecting enjoyable. At least, to me. And this forum is a great way to share and to learn. I know that I always enjoy seeing what other collectors have. I just wanted to show off a few of my own now that I'm back home.
I thought I would post one a day for a few days as long as I thought a few people were enjoying them. Wait until you see the one I have selected for tomorrow. I absolutely guarantee you that you've never seen one like it. It's probably my ultimate rarity.
But that's tomorrow. Enjoy the jubilee badge today. I think it's a rare and good one too, and I am unlikely to ever find another.
Where have you been? My PM file shows that you haven't yet opened up my PM of 9-24-04 regarding that Port of Batumi KGB jubilee badge we once talked about.
If HQ means high quality scans, then yes, I guess that's possible. However, I'm not sure where or how I'd post them. I'm open to suggestions, I suppose.
I can only keep this quality coming for a few days, rarities being what they are. However, I have a few other things, interesting but not so rare, to post. I'm glad that a few people are enjoying these badges. I know how much I enjoy seeing the things other collectors post here.
I was kind of hoping you could sent the high quality scans through email. :D
Especially because the items are not described in any book it would be great to have these references at home, printed in large format to check all the details.
If HQ means high quality scans, then yes, I guess that's possible. However, I'm not sure where or how I'd post them. I'm open to suggestions, I suppose.
Chuck
Chuck,
You can send the HQ files to me and I can post them for you.
Rusty.
"Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none." Benjamin Franklin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Member #193
