Fake Hero of the Soviet Union Medals.

[USSR]

Originally Posted by KjetilK

Supposedly it's: "Width: 30.61 mm Weight: 21.59 gram"

I'm very cautious about these medals, but really, really want one ;) Unfortunately all I've seen have been fakes.

The measures seem to be a little off but within the margins I think. The stars suppose to be 30 mm in diameter and 21,5 gram without the suspension.

Henry Sakaida;299160]Before you can even think about the authenticy of this piece, you must consider the following:

1. The source of this HSU. Did you obtain it directly from the veteran?
Or did you buy it on eBay from a seller you've never done business with before?

2. Is there any accompanying award booklet?


We need to see the entire medal including the front and back of the suspension.
Just looking at 2 photos doesn't tell me much. We need the background of this medal and how you obtained it. There are too many fakes out there. Be careful!

True!

[Henry Sakaida]

Originally Posted by KjetilK

Good, bad?

Better to ask before bidding.

OK, out of boredom, I went to the auction site and found the HSU you are interested in. Are you bidder 0***. (19)? Don't answer that! I see it had a couple of people start bidding up the auction, then dropped out, and now, this is a battle between two neophytes 0***. and c***r (20). There are always snipers waiting at the very end! I guarantee you that!!

In checking this out, if it is a fake, then it is a damn good one! The stipling and patina seems right on, as well as other items which I won't discuss here which will help the fakers. The serial number matches the name of the recipient. All the dings and scratch and pitting are consistent with others I have seen.

I wish I knew more about the suspension part. It looks good, but once again, without comparing it side by side with an original, I just can't be 98% certain.

I am puzzled by the position of the 4 digit numbers...the numbers themselves are in the same style as others I have seen...I know of one HSU which is No.1392 and the position of this is not in the same exact level as 1256. Very slightly different. That's the only thing that glared out at me. I'm still learning about HSUs, but I have seen enough fakes to spot the obvious ones. The size of the numbers for Type 1s differs from Type 2s.

If you are going into the area of high end orders and medals, it is very important for you to get a copy of Paul McDaniel/Paul Schmitt's book called THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SOVIET ORDERS AND MEDALS.

I wish I knew who the dealer is. I have a vague idea. The guy I am thinking of is a good guy.

And no, I am NOT going to bid, but I will keep my eye on this one to see if it goes for over $7000.

Good luck and always do your homework.

[Kjetil Kvist]

Originally Posted by Henry Sakaida

If you are going into the area of high end orders and medals, it is very important for you to get a copy of Paul McDaniel/Paul Schmitt's book called THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SOVIET ORDERS AND MEDALS.

Thank you for your input.

Yes, I have the book - bought it when it was issued. I'm mostly into Order of Glory 3rd class, and Bravery Medals. I like the research part, and how the war can be illustrated by the stories behind the medals. But, of course, a Order of Lenin issued for combat actions or a HSU Medal is the Holy Grail.

I'm not to worried about the price. At the moment I think I pick up nice Glory 3rd on eBay to fair prices, and the research work is always worth the dollars I spend. HSUs should be expencive. But I'm not good enough to spot the fakes, and that worries me a little bit.

[Henry Sakaida]

Check this out on that auction site:

Russian medal order hero of sovietunion in gold

HSU#11669. The serial number was NEVER awarded! But the suspension, looks really old and the ribbon is a replacement. The medal itself is pretty well dinged. How can that be if it was never awarded?

The seller has posted photos of very poor quality, and there is one "photo" which looks like it came from a photo copy! His story doesn't make sense, the serial number and condition of the medal doesn't make sense...and there are some other technical issues with the medal, but I won't divulge for the fakers who may be members or visit this site.

And to make this offering really enticing, the seller says this is a private auction and there is no refund. So check it out and learn something!

That seller of HSU#11669 didn't sell last week, no bidders, so he relisted it. Currently as I write this, it has 13 bids, and is now up to a whopping $265.00!!!

But wait! A bidder retracted his $2002.00 bid yesterday. Maybe he did some research. But if you are bidding serious money, you better do your research!I don't trust anything coming out of Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Cyprus, China. Are you willing to trust their money back guarantee?

And think about this: You pay $5000 for your medal, finally receive your REGISTERED package from Freedonia, open it, and you find a cheap $3 token? You file a complaint with the auction company and claim you were cheated; the seller states that he sent what you won, and that YOU are trying to cheat him! Sorry, but you loose. You opened the registered parcel.

What should you have done? Get it x-rayed first, then open it up in front of the postmaster and video tape the opening, and have him as your witness. Are you really going to do all this???

Save yourself the trouble. Just deal with a collector whom you know or with a reputable dealer.

Just hate to see members getting screwed. It happens because you get too excited, you are too trusting, you want to believe it's real, and you haven't done your research.

[Bill Garvy]

The item in question sold for over $2750...