12-14-2013, 04:39 PM
Okay Ralph, here's my first one. Are the background colors (white/blue) significant? I'm sure there is some distinction, but it's still new to me.
The first photo is of the badge in its plastic presentation case on velvet-like pinkish-red supporting backing. The next two are close-ups of obverse and reverse.
I noticed that the blue color darkens near the corners of the triangle. It could be from glue holding the backing in place - just a thought. Regardless, the remaining photos show the badge in different lighting which in turn shows more color variations and the plastic? resin? coating over the obverse of the badge.
I'm also not certain about the construction of the badge. In the picture of the reverse, there are to small grey dots that look like "rivets" used to hold something in place (on Soviet badges in my experience), but their locations are too low to correspond to the sword and shield emblem on the obverse.
As to the emblem itself, like most of the Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries with state security organizations, the sword and shield motif is used and though the sword is pointing downward (as opposed to most US and other Western agencies/specific military groups where a sword is part of an emblem or seal) it is cocked to one side rather than strictly vertical. This variation, together with the unusual shape of the shield, make this emblem stand out from its contemporaries - in my opinion.
Phillip
The first photo is of the badge in its plastic presentation case on velvet-like pinkish-red supporting backing. The next two are close-ups of obverse and reverse.
I noticed that the blue color darkens near the corners of the triangle. It could be from glue holding the backing in place - just a thought. Regardless, the remaining photos show the badge in different lighting which in turn shows more color variations and the plastic? resin? coating over the obverse of the badge.
I'm also not certain about the construction of the badge. In the picture of the reverse, there are to small grey dots that look like "rivets" used to hold something in place (on Soviet badges in my experience), but their locations are too low to correspond to the sword and shield emblem on the obverse.
As to the emblem itself, like most of the Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries with state security organizations, the sword and shield motif is used and though the sword is pointing downward (as opposed to most US and other Western agencies/specific military groups where a sword is part of an emblem or seal) it is cocked to one side rather than strictly vertical. This variation, together with the unusual shape of the shield, make this emblem stand out from its contemporaries - in my opinion.
Phillip
Phillip
