Order "Julio Antonio Mella".

[Taz]

Hi Eddie,
do you know which metals are used to build this award?

Esteban,

Here is Ricks reply to the question of Metals involved
Hi Taz, it has six (6) seperate pieces and at this point seems to be the most complex of the orders with respects to construction. There may be some silver involved, but the bulk seems to be base metals and gilded, like so many other of the orders. There appears to have been precious little precious metals used in the assembly of any Cuban Order known thus far. Perhaps a decision of expediency, or perhaps one of neccessity. I suspect it will be some time before we have any definitive concepts.

And my reply:

Thanks very much Rick,
So relatively complex in design but using cheaper Metals.
I wonder if the first issues of the awards were maybe gilted silver, It seems even the Hero stars are not that expensivly made.
Was the question of Cuban awards made in the GDR ever cleared up? I have yet to see any hard evidence that this was the case, let alone where they are made after 1990.
The similarities are there but the suspensions are shorter and the Medals smaller in diameter than GDR awards. In honesty I have no doubt that Cuban Industry was and is, very capable of producing their own awards if need be.
The knowledge of producing high quality Orders and Medals is not the problem looking at the Early and Batista era awards for example. The problem would most likely arise with the number of awards required.
Anyway just so little still known right now, thanks for the promt reply.


Regards Eddie.