Lenin.

[Norm Braddock]

To each his own. Tis your right to do and think as you pls.

My two cents is that prices will drop further. Sure, try to sell your T2CSM for 1000 bucks. However, will you have any buyers?

Prices went crazy high and people stopped buying-esp. the seasoned vets who have been around the hobby for many years. You can learn a great deal regarding the market by what the "old timers" have said here before.

Remember, you may think that your award is worth a great deal of money buuuuuuuuuuut....................try and find a buyer who will pay what you ask for it. They are few and far between and likely non existent.

Good luck to you if you think the market will rise again in the near future to what it was 2 or 3 years ago. Good luck also to those that thought they could retire on their collections. No sarcasm intended.

[Agresto]

I agree with you, CtahhR. I'd gladly go a week without food for one.

As for prices, you're never gonna know what is going to happen. The market could pick up again or it could go lower. You know the risk getting into this hobby. For me, the historical value far outweighs the value in money, although I don't have any "high end" awards. It's just a personal preference.

Very respectfully,

Michael

[CtahhR]

It's a shame I don't eat $2000 worth of food a week or I'd just give up and buy lots of goodies. I once had an 18 month period where I didn't have a penny of income and that was very much "eat what you find". All I can say for those of you desperate for the Orders and not bothered about eating is from experience I can tell you that after 3 days without food you don't feel hungry any more.... But Mortgaging your place just to pay for Awards is not a suggestion coming from me!

[Agresto]

For what college is charging me, I should be having a $2000 week. Hey, it'll help me continue my collection later in life which is what I really want. :thumbsup

[Pobeda45]

I run a big guitar community (kramerforum.com) and the questions of value are a dirty word on there. Sorry if I struck a nerve. :)

I wonder about Lenins in particular, a lot were awarded for X years of service and they are plentiful but expensive today. So I was wondering if the price will stay even if gold falls. My guess is that Lenins will decrease as well.

I feel very bullish on WWII awards though--amazing history and demand that will continue to be fueled by Russia's cult of the war.. Lately they've just been calling it "The Great War" which is of course what WWI used to be called.

George

[CtahhR]

"The Great Patriotic War" which used to be used for the Napoleonic Invasion of 1812.

[Pobeda45]

Good point.:thumbsup

[PaulR]

I am thankful that the prices are dropping. It will be nice to start collecting again. I still have my collection, a bulk of which I bought back in 1992-5. I am not nieve enough to think that I will ever see another 15 dollar Order of the Red Banner again, but I would be game to see one under 200 dollars.

[deValcourt]

Well, for what it's worth (pun intended;)), I just watched two ordinary orders - an Order of Labor Glory III (no rivets but 280,XXX) and a Order of the Badge of Honor ("spoon"), go on ePay from a relatively unknown seller for $51 and $48 respectively. I'm sure the seller isn't very happy, but the winners are. Oh, and shipping for each was only $5 so it wasn't one of those
"get ya" with a low price and $50 in shipping charges.

As for Lenins, they are going for what they are worth in precious metal weight rather than collectability in Europe - from what I hear. When the value of gold drops, so will the price of the OLs. Hopefully, idiots won't melt down too many of them before that happens since that is one of the items on my very short wish list.:)

Phillip

[RedBanner1920]

T5V1 circa 1951 numbered #156,441. Most likely awarded for long service or to a working class hero. I would love to add some more variations into my collection but as they say "Want in one hand sh*t in the other and see what you get first"