Order "In Service To The Socialist Country".

[Greg Collins]

I'm not generally given to overblown expressions commonly used in sales pitches like, "RARE!!!" or "FABULOUS!!!", but they might just apply here. As I have said in the past, Securitate items are just not that common- many, if not most, have been destroyed. I have two Securitate Orders to share with you. The Orders themselves are considered rare by themselves, but with the boxes, ribbon (only one has it) and documents with their "cylinders", well, it borders on outrageous.

The first is the Order for Service to Socialist Country - 3rd Class (Ordinul "În serviciul patriei socialiste"), awarded to Captain Florean Sularea on October 23rd, 1963. It has the "franked" signature of President Gheorghiu-Dej.

The second image is a detail of the bronze order itself... with the tractor and construction motif, it would be easy to see this as a labour award, that is, until you get to the crossed rifles. It is full-closure pin back, un-numbered.