Laureate Of The State Prize Of The U.S.S.R.

[new world]

Fellows,

Here's some interesting info on State Prizes:

State prizes existed in two emissions:

1) 1st emission - medals in 3 classes.
Gold and silver-plated.
Years of issue: between 8.9.1956 and 11.10.1967
Emission size: about 60 per year (all 3 classes combined)
1st emission State prizes were designed after Stalin prize (Stalin's head on the avers of the medal was replaced by Sickle&Hammer emblem).
Majority of Stalin prizes in mid 1960s were exchanged for newly designed State Prize medals and documents.

2) 2nd emission - single medal replaced prior 3-class emission.
Material - solid gold.
As of 11.10.1967 replaced earlier 3 class awards bearing the same but with slightly different design.
Emission dates - October 1967 - till break-up of the USSR (1991).
Emission size: initially about 70 were issued per year, growing to about 300 per year during 1970s.

Although somewhat less important than the Lenin Prize, State Prize remained a very prestigious award until the last days of the Soviet Union.

Since 1975 State Prize was most often issued for top results in labor and for improvements leading to increased productivity. Thus it eventually became a top worker's award rather than a recognition for outstanding science and arts, such as the Lenin Prize.

William