Badge "50 Years Membership In The Communist Party Of U.S.S.R."

[Kirchgoens]

I had wondered about this one (the 50th badge), and am glad I stumbled on this posting. I have picked up two of these in the past couple months just because the construction was very nice, but I wasn't sure what I was getting.

...Brian

[Nota Bene]

Originally Posted by Aharim

We started this post with a 50 badge that looked like Order of Lenin and was a 50 year pin for members of the Communist Party (badge in silver). It was noted by another poster that it was difficult to pin. I have one where the recipient solved that problem. An almost unique (i am sure) screwback 50 year pin for Communist Party membership!

I believe a bunch of them was made for members of the military.

Alexei

[Aharim]

To get such a badge is a real matter of longevity. There were several "thinning of the ranks" (not purges) in the 20's and early 30's where members were questioned about what they had done to further the party "recently" and if not sufficiently bold, had their memberships cancelled. Happened to Yeshov's wife if I recall, but she was reinstated for a while. Then there were the purges. So the badge shows up in approximately 1978. I have photos of Brezhnev receiving his as well as photos of his documents. (Maybe real?)(I will scan and photo when I can.) I stayed with photos on that one, because how many Brezhnev documents are out there? More than he ever had. The badge should be relatively inexpensive (except for his) - buy if it is, and may come with a document. I got one of those. Get one if you can, and like I did, buy interesting odd ball pieces.

[Christophe]

Originally Posted by Aharim

We started this post with a 50 badge that looked like Order of Lenin and was a 50 year pin for members of the Communist Party (badge in silver). It was noted by another poster that it was difficult to pin. I have one where the recipient solved that problem. An almost unique (i am sure) screwback 50 year pin for Communist Party membership!

Hi Aharim,

Would it be possible to have a pic of the back... for my education. I have only seen the "classical" one with the pin, until now...

Many thanks.

Cheers.

Ch.

[EricFG]

Oh, they're both good, I was just trying to point out some admittedly tiny differences that may or may not lead to them being called different variations.
And by my speculating that there were maybe a million of these made I think that they were not all made at one time, rather in batches at different points in time thus raising the possibility of differnet variations due to changed MMs, different manufacurers, new dies.... all wild specualtion on my part. Just kind of thinking out loud.
Also, I'll lower my mintage guess to, say, mid six figures.

[EricFG]

Originally Posted by EricFG

I was just trying to point out some admittedly tiny differences that may or may not lead to them being called different variations.

This Russian website shows two variations of the MMs: Sign - 50 years in the CPSU | Collectibles, hobbies and passions.
Знак - 50 лет пребывания в КПСС | Коллекционирование, хобби и увлечения.

[Nota Bene]

Interesting, I have always believed that bronze and aluminum badges were fakes, because they have appeared on the market much later. Actually, I am still inclined to believe that.

Alexei

[EricFG]

The nicer bronze one has the MMD mark, not that that means anything, but maybe it could have been an 'official copy' for daily use? Probably not as there's few Soviet awards that were copied semi-officially (other than the school badges with the plaques)
The other two have that zanchki vibe to them. They certainly weren't made to deceive.
BTW, what was the purpose of znachki anyway, besides propaganda? The monies collected from znak sales went where?

[Nota Bene]

I don't believe in official copies.

Znachki were made for and sold to collectors, it's as simple as that. The proceeds no doubt were used to better the lives of workers and peasants. :)

Alexei

[EricFG]

Originally Posted by Nota Bene

I don't believe in official copies.

OK. Agreed. But some semi- or non-official badges did get made and were allowed to be worn. We can agree on that, can we not, like the school rhomboids?

Znachki were made for and sold to collectors, it's as simple as that.

For collectors, or for Soviet citizens that wanted to be seen in a better light by party officials? Forgive an ignorant capitolist but it's my belief that your average low to middle class Soviet citizen would buy these znak and wear them to show his or her comrades just how supportive of the regime he/she was. Is my idea wrong? Did rabid party supporters buy and wear these daily for show? Or were these like coins and stamps that are bought and closeted like in the west?

The proceeds no doubt were used to better the lives of workers and peasants.

Into the State coffers in other words? I thought so.

Thanks, Alexei. It's so good to have you back with us! :thumbsup :thumbsup