I found this badge on other Forum.
I think it's an interesting badge. At the other Forum people think it's fake.
I am not sure, however never seen this badge before and cannot figure out what this badge is about.
It says in Belarusian: Belarusian Socialist Soviet Republic.
As well as having the workers of the world unite slogan at the top, and BSSR in Yiddish and in latin script.
The badge is heavy brass and enamel, with a pin back with no makers mark.
Based on photos in Kutsenko and Smirnov's book Ordena sovetskikh republiblik, I seriously doubt its authenticity. This looks like a piece of aluminum that was run over by a garbage truck, not an esteemed order made of silver.
Original order is a screwback, multi-piece construction, with enamel. No question that it is a fake. Two days ago, I saw something similar from China, with a pinback.
Marc,
Nice. Is it genuine?
What's that in the top left corner on the obverse - a number? And one other thing, why would they have the name of the Republic in Latin in those days (top right corner)?
Sergei
Marc,
Very interesting. I slapped on my post not realising you had a large posting today. Similar patterns for the other Republics? (I need to go and watch the full lunar eclipse so can't read all threads, my wife is a Physics teacher;) ) Yes, the Jewish community used to be quite significant in Bielorussia, but the design still puzzles me. A kind of two-way compromise, playing it safe with both the East and the West? Those early days ... Still, the logo on the right, it's not a transliteration of the name of the Republic, is it?
I accept, it may well be a reproduction of the genuine award, but the design had to be taken from somewhere - unless it's a complete prank, of course.
(I care about this one cause I was born near Minsk :D )
Sergei
