Medal "Veteran Of Labour".

[bayoswede]

Hi all collectors, wonderful weather in Sweden this great day
55 Years since the guns silenced in Europe !!!
I just have a question about the common Veteran of Labour medal. Is there two versions of this medal ?:)
I have it all in silver colour and also in black ?
All the best from Northern Europe
Have a nice weekend !
Christer

[Mahdi]

Christer,

Good question. This actually depends on what your definition of "variation" is. I am quite anal about my definition, so I actually have 4 obverse variations and 2 reverse variations. If there is any interest in this, I can post a web site or article concerning these variations.

[bayoswede]

Hi , Yes I would like to learn more about this common medal and its varations, The more I learn about Russian Order/medals the
more it seems to be to learn.

I can never get enough Knowledge !
Thanks and by from Europe

[Tal Inbar]

Well, the basic 2 variants are:

1. Obverse of the medal blackened and reverse shiny silver colour`
2. Two side silver colour.

But - some of the medal have "LMD" stamp on the reverse of the ring, and there is another thing - the hammer touched by a ray and doesn't touch.

Dark obverse:

Silver colour obverse:

And the hammer:

[WAR II]

Hello Tal,
I have a Veteran of Labor(Labour) that was gold plated. I have no idea why it was plated. Can you give me any ideas why this could have been done?
The scan shows some wear on the hammer which has silver showing.

[Nota Bene]

Is it plated or stamped in yellow metal?

There are actually three finish variations: blackened, "silvered" and in between:

[WAR II]

Alexei,
I believe the Veteran of Labor Medal I have is plated. I have a number of other gold plated medals:
20 years RKKA
Defense of Moscow
Defense of the Caucasus
Defense of Odessa
Defense of Sevastopol
Capture of Berlin
Capture of Belgrade
Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR
Victory over Germany
Victory over Japan
Medal for Bravery #227630
Medal for Combat Service #1127419(in extremely small numbers with red enamel)
I'll put some of the pictures up tomorrow. It's getting late tonight.
Warm regards,
Bill

[Tal Inbar]

What about another variation: blackened obverse, "silvered" reverse? I have several of those.

Tal

[Nota Bene]

Tal,

I think all blackened medals have silvered reverse, don't they?

Alexei

Originally posted by Tal Inbar
What about another variation: blackened obverse, "silvered" reverse? I have several of those.

Tal

[WAR II]

I would like to make several observations about the Veteran of Labor Medals. McDaniel says that they are made from an aluminum alloy. Shishkov and Muzalevsky say that some are made of silver and others are made of tombac with silver plating. I would agree with Shishkov. (tombac, by the way, is an alloy of copper and zinc and resembles brass. If arsenic is added it becomes white tombac.) Many of the Vet of Labor medals look like silver or silver plated tombac to me. I have one that is silver with the hammer and sickle polished to a mirror-like finish.
I have noticed the reverse of most Vet of Labor medals have a slighty stippled field. Some also have stippling in the field of the obverse as well. I have one that has a smooth field on the obverse and stippling on the reverse. I also have one that has a smooth field on the obverse and the reverse. I think Tal is right when he says it depends on what we consider variations. Shishkov and Muzalevsky indicate about eight variations. I think there might be more than that, but don't see enough of them to make any final determinations.
Just a couple of thoughts,
Warm regards to all,
Bill