Modern Russian Medals - Over-productions or fakes?

[CtahhR]

I certainly don't have all the departmental awards (also every regional/city department of every branch of every service has awards these days) but I also have hoovered up many pieces just to have examples to use to inform what is out there (if you look through the ministerial awards section I've posted a couple).

The main problem is the lack of information or willingness to accept that many of these items are just being used to cash in on collectors. Middle man after middle man marking up the pieces before they make their way to a western collection when a collector could put a bit of effort in themselves and understand not only what the pieces really are but that they could buy them direct from source for a fraction of the price these are offered for on auction and dealers' sites.

If I were of the mindset of taking advantage of this situation I would have bought up vast supplies and offered them with a large mark-up and made up story on western markets. That however does not advance the understanding or honour of the awards or recipients. It can be lucrative when you find punters that have not done their research. I constantly warn about the pitfalls. Some listen, some don't and then come back and tell me it turned out I was right and there's no helping some.

Just remember, at the end of the day many people are very happy to take as much money from you as possible. The layers of deception have been removed by this forum from its very creation. Fakes, faerie tales and misunderstanding.