Fake Ushakov Medals

[usmedalman]

Hello everyone. My first post on this forum. I am new to collecting Soviet Medals and like the looks of the Ushakov Medal so I am considering this one which was offered to me. Is it any good? The face looks strange to me, but I don't know all what to look for to know the fakes from the real. If it is bad, please explain a little so I can know what to look for.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[desantnik]

Welcome to the forum. We need pictures of the obverse and reverse medallion as big as you can get them - suspension in this case is nice, but not necessary. Also, please post pictures of the medal's top and bottom "seams."

[Lapa]

usmedalman,

Welcome to the Forum!

I am sorry to have to answer your first post this way, but this Ushakov medal is :thumbsdown

Here are two original medals with close-by serial numbers for comparison purposes.

Marc

[Lapa]

and SN 790.

[usmedalman]

Welcome to the forum. We need pictures of the obverse and reverse medallion as big as you can get them - suspension in this case is nice, but not necessary. Also, please post pictures of the medal's top and bottom "seams."

Some more closer photos as requested.

usmedalman,

Welcome to the Forum!

I am sorry to have to answer your first post this way, but this Ushakov medal is :thumbsdown

Here are two original medals with close-by serial numbers for comparison purposes.

Marc

This medal #703 looks like the suspension ring is cast as part of the medal. Am I seeing that detail correctly? But #790 looks like the suspension ring is attached seperately and soldered to the medallion, which is the same method as attaching on the medal I have posted. If I am seeing these differences correctly, was this a design change from the mint?

[Lapa]

Compare Ushakov's portrait, the leaf wreath under it, the SN digits, the top part of the anchor, etc.

Marc

[willum]

Hello everyone. My first post on this forum. I am new to collecting Soviet Medals and like the looks of the Ushakov Medal so I am considering this one which was offered to me. Is it any good? The face looks strange to me, but I don't know all what to look for to know the fakes from the real. If it is bad, please explain a little so I can know what to look for.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Good Morning, and welcome to the forum. I see you have some answers on your questions already from some folks that have years of experience, so I won't comment on that, but I'd like to share some thoughts. I too am fairly new to this, and I've often found it hard to tell the real thing from the bad stuff out there. The best advice I can offer is to 1. post here! lol, and 2. carefully compare anything you have questions on to known good medals. There are tons of quality images here, and elsewhere from reputable dealers, and you'll soon be able to see the differences for most of the bad stuff that is poorly made. The better made "fakes" are harder to see, but it's all about learning to train your eye. I think even the most experienced collectors reach out to those that are the experts, and this is a great place to get some help. Again, welcome! Cheers/Jim

[usmedalman]

Thanks for all the help. As a new collector I am encouraged by the support you show. Comparing the pictures of the real Ushakov medals to the one I posted I note several differences in the hair, eyes, nose and mouth. Also, the anchor is more pointed than on the originals.

I would still like to learn more about the suspension ring difference between the two originals that were posted. When did the mint switch from the cast cast suspension ring to a regular ring soldered to the medal?

[Lapa]

...I would still like to learn more about the suspension ring difference between the two originals that were posted. When did the mint switch from the cast cast suspension ring to a regular ring soldered to the medal?

The short answer is: never!

The ring was always soldered.

Marc

[CtahhR]

It's good to have such a concise answer to such questions! There's no space for error with a solid answer.