Order "Tudor Vladimircscu".

[HuliganRS]

Here are a few pics of my set.

Enjoy,

Rusty.

[medals73]

Order of Tudor Vladimirescu / Ordinul Tudor Vladimirescu, 5th class

This is cased and if anyone is interested (and can spare the time from their explorations of the typology of fake Russian boot laces), I could show it too.

[medals73]

Soon ("soonish"), I'll be posting some examples. Preliminary to that, here's a basic outline, as the order is rather complex.

Created 13 April 1966 (so there is no RPR variety). It was awarded to Romanians or foreigners, civilians or militrary, who "through participation in the revolutionary struggle have made a significant contribution to winning the democratic freedoms and the establishment of socialism."

1. First class - gilt with "diamonds" (brilliants).
1.1. Early variety with TV facing to the right - very rare.
1.2. Made of real (18K) gold hallmarked and real diamonds, awarded only three times (twice to Nicolae Ceauşescu and once to Elena Ceaușescu)
1.3. Silver gilt with brilliants awarded around 150 times.
1.4. Diplomatic variety, sash, sash badge, and breast star (similar to the regular pinback 1st class, but smaller), awarded around 30 times. (There is some evidence to suggest this was a neck badge rather than a sash badge.)

2. Second class - gilt.
2.1. Early variety with TV facing to the right - very rare.
2.2. Made of real (18K) gold hallmarked, awarded only around 10 times.
2.3. Bronze gilt with brilliants awarded around 250 times.
2.4. Diplomatic variety, breast star (similar to the regular 2nd class, but smaller), awarded around 40 times.

3. Third class - silver with green enamel behind the portrait.
3.1. Made of real silver hallmarked, awarded only around 50 times.
3.2. Silvered bronze awarded around 1000 times.
3.3. Diplomatic variety, breast star (similar to the regular 3rd class, but smaller), awarded around 50 times.

4. Fourth class - silvered with red enamel behind the portrait.
4.1. Silvered bronze awarded around 2000 times.
4.2. Diplomatic variety, breast star (similar to the regular 4th class, but smaller), awarded around 50 times.

5. Fifth class - bronze with orange enamel behind the portrait.
5.1. Bronze awarded around 3500 times.
5.2. Diplomatic variety, breast star (similar to the regular 5th class, but smaller), awarded around 50 times.

The regular pinback badges were 65.5 x 69 mm, while the diplomatic variety (to foreigners only) was 41 x 51 mm.

There was also an affiliated medal in two classes, but that's a medal and will/should be discussed "over there".

Awards ceased in 1989 (of course).

More to come . . .

Sources: Charles H. Pankey, “The Socialist Romanian Order, Medal, and Badges of Tudor Vladimirescu,” The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America 51, 5 (September-October 2000): 24-28; “Ordinul Tudor Vladimirescu ,” http://www.colectionarul-roman.ro/st...adimirescu.htm, last consulted 28 April 2012. Thanks also to Mark Patterson.

[medals73]

Not sure there is tremendous interest, but here goes . . .

Order of Tudor Vladimirescu / Ordinul Tudor Vladimirescu, 1st class, type 1.3

[medals73]

Order of Tudor Vladimirescu / Ordinul Tudor Vladimirescu, 2nd class, type 2.3

[medals73]

Order of Tudor Vladimirescu / Ordinul Tudor Vladimirescu, 3rd class, silver hallmarked, type 3.1

[medals73]

Order of Tudor Vladimirescu / Ordinul Tudor Vladimirescu, 4th class, type 4.1

5th class (type 5.1) shown above.

Should there be any interest, I could add more . . . ? :confused:

[medals73]

Oh and a document for the 3rd class, to Constantin Mindreanu, 30 June 1966, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Romanian Communist Party.

[medals73]

On account of what may be over-aggressive editing, I post again:

Order of Tudor Vladimirescu / Ordinul Tudor Vladimirescu, 3rd class, type 3.2

[medals73]

Order of Tudor Vladimirescu / Ordinul Tudor Vladimirescu, 1st class, diplomatic division, type 1.4

A sash (neck?) badge and star (of the smaller "diplomatic" size and without "brilliants -- was there a diamond version?).

Sadly, the sash (neck ribbon?) is absent. Presumably, the same as the ribbon bar for the first class (red with a metallic gold central stripe, essentially three equal stripes).

And a comparison of the two stars, regular 1st class and diplomatic. The size difference is clear.