This is probably the hardest medal to collect, as there are so many different variations and types that most collectors usually forget about them and are satisfied with 1 of each type at the most. I am hoping to collect all of them. (I believe it's about 80 different variations for all three classes combined). Now, does anyone know if there is an Armed Forces variation (20 yrs), with no enamel in the center? McDaniel mentions it, but I have never seen one. Any thoughts, ideas? Thanks!
We BOTH know the aggravation this medal can cause. Mahdi and I spent alot of time working out this section of my website. We spent alot of time going back and forth via AOL Instant Messenger and email. We came to a fairly good guide to this medal which you can see within the website here: http://soviet-awards.addr.com/medals14.htm
I've never seen this one before, I wonder if it may have been a mistake at the mint rather than a mass produced piece? Why would they do something like this unless it was a mistake?
Please look at the medal certificate below. I think it is ver UNLIKELY that all 3 medals are mentioned in the same hand writing, and the same stams - indicating the same unit for at least 10 years of service in the same unit - is a little disturbing, althogh possible.
The handwriting doesn't worry me at all- it all looks distinct enough to have been written by three different people. The stamps are definately interesting, but not impossible- I have several groups with long service around one geographical region, with the 'admin' work of that region being taken care of at one unit. It's interesting, though not impossible.
I believe the handwritting is different, at least some letters that are found in all three entries, like Russian "v", "p" , etc., are different. I find it not surprising that the persona served in the same unit for so many years.
I wonder how common is the booklet in which there are awarded all three service medals.
This is easy one: Ministry of Defence, but I haven´t seen lot of them ( but as a quite beginner in soviet medals there are so much what I have NOT seen !!!).
It's fairly common. The reason you don't see 2nd or 3rd class medals listed in other cards is that by the time the medal was established the recipient had already served more than 15 years, and had received only the 1st class medal.
I have a KGB medal for irreprochable service, type 2. With this medal came a document dated 1960. What is strange is that on Mondvor-page they say that a 1960 dated medal should be silver... The medal I got is, I think, silverplated. So is this a case of creative dealing or .........
