Order Of The Star.

[medals73]

Thanks, sure there are some interesting story behind these medals. Did you saw the matching documents ?

I saw what remained of my more open friend's documents. He buried them in the back yard along with his medals and his vodka when the PDRA fell and Afghanistan was "liberated" out of fear as to what would become of him in a Mujahadeen-ruled Afghanistan. He had just exchavated all of these when we opened his vodka in May 2002. I was honored.

[desantnik]

Soviet engineer lieutenant colonel photo dated 20.5.83. Order of star visible lower right.

[Felix]

It's a very interesting picture.

I'm not sure about the other medals :

20 years of WWII victory
50 and 60 years of the soviet army
10 (or 15) years of service
??? (Afghan medal ?)
Afghan order of the star

[Esteban_cool]

I´d say the "Afghan medal" located next to the Order of Star is the 10 yrs irreproachable service medal.

[Taz]

Esteban yep,

That's a good call.

Eddie.

[Dat Nguyen]

Drum roll please......

For your viewing pleasure, two fake Order of the Stars; 2nd Class and 3rd Class. Saw them last week at our bazaar. Wished I had my measurement tools with me to measure these puppies.

These fakes have proper Dari number '2' and '3' on the reverse. Both have flat features on center of the star, some pockets left from the sand cast, the ring on top of the star is soldered instead of being part of the star.

Becareful because they will eventually make their ways on to our 'favorite' online auction site.

Dat

[desantnik]

Dat, thanks for in the field reporting!

[medals73]

Sad, but predictable. Probably made up for the occupation troops.

[Felix]

What seems to be a fake 1st class. I just have these pictures. Looks like an ugly cast copy.

[Dat Nguyen]

Hello Felix,

Yeah, that one looks pretty bad. The two fakes that I posted is fairly 'good'. Another tip for collectors out there if you want one of these; these stars are either plated with silver or gold...I think the base metal is brass. You will often find the original Order of the Stars with deep scratches on the back side; a quick way to tell if an item is plated or solid silver or gold. The majority of Afghan 'silver' or 'gold' colored medals/orders that I've seen has deep scratches on the back down to the base metal.

Most of the precious metals were melted down to make jewery or fake silver coins...speaking of which; lots of fake US silver coins and antique coins are being sold here to gullible GI's... The Order of the April Revolution Version 1 was made out of silver; I believe that majority of those orders have been melted down for their silver content. BTW, if one of y'all got an extra one of the April Revolution version 1; please let me know.

Dat