Choibalsan Prize And State Prize.

[rboomsma]

My latest purchase From Alexei. (Alexie's photo)

CHOIBALSAN STATE PRIZE MEDAL 1945 variation, discontinued in 1962. Made of gold, silver and enamels. Screwback with original silver screwplate. Very light wear, moderate patina and perfect enamel.

[Riley1965]

That State prize medal is Awesome!!:thumbsup :thumbsup That's the first one I've seen. Congrats!!!

Doc

[Nota Bene]

Doc,

You have to see it in person, it just has that great feel of a respected award. Hard to describe...

Alexei

[medals73]

Awarded for broadly defined cultural achievement, the Choibalsan Prize was established in 1945.

I estimate that only about ten of these were awarded. Sadly, the order is neither named nor numbered.

This example is believed to have been awarded (at least it came with the proper certificate) to Tsevegmidyn Gaitav (1929-79), who received it on 8 February 1961.

The available citation is fairly cryptic:

'Poet. Bogd Soum, Uvurkhangai province. 1961. For his historical poem “Damdin Sukhbaatar”.'

He was, however, best known as the co-author of the words to the national anthem, 'Bugd nairamdakh Mongol' ('Anthem of Our Country'). Music by Bilegyn Damdinsüren. Words by Tsevegmidyn Gaitav and Choizhilyn Chimed. Music adopted 1950; words adopted 1961. This was the 1961-91 anthem:

Урьдийн бэрх дарлалыг устгаж
Ардын эрх жаргалыг тогтоож
Бүх нийтийн зоригийг илтгэсэн
Бүгд Найрамдах Улсаа байгуулсан

Сайхан Монголын цэлгэр орон
Саруул хөгжлийн дэлгэр гүрэн
Үеийн үед энхжин бадартугай
Үүрдийн үүрд батжин мандтугай

Ачит нам алсыг гийгүүлж
Хүчит түмэн улсыг хөгжүүлж
Бууршгүй зүтгэл дүүрэн хөвчилсөн
Цуцашгүй тэмцэл түүхийг товчилсон

Сайхан Монголын цэлгэр орон
Саруул хөгжлийн дэлгэр гүрэн
Үеийн үед энхжин бадартугай
Үүрдийн үүрд батжин мандтугай

Зөвлөлт оронтой заяа холбож
Дэвшилт олонтой санаа нийлж
Хандах зүгийг бахтай барьсан
Мандах коммунизмыг цогтой зорьсон

Сайхан Монголын цэлгэр орон
Саруул хөгжлийн дэлгэр гүрэн
Үеийн үед энхжин бадартугай
Үүрдийн үүрд батжин мандтугай

Transliteration:

Uridiin berkh darlalyg ustgaj
Ardyn erkh jargalyg togtooj
Bükh niitiin zorigiig iltgesen
Bügd nairamdakh ulsaa baiguulsan

Saikhan mongolyn tselger oron
Saruul khegjliin delger güren
Üyeiin üyed enkhjin badartugai
Üürdiin üürd batjin mandtugai

Achit nam alsyg giigüülj
Khüjit tümen ülcyg khögjüülj
Buurshgüi zütgel düüren khövjilsön
Tsutsashgüi temtsel tüükhiig tovjilson

Saikhan mongolyn tselger oron
Saruul khegjliin delger güren
Üyeiin üyed enkhjin badartugai
Üürdiin üürd batjin mandtugai

Zövlölt orontoi zayaa kholboj
Devshilt olontoi sanaa niilj
Khandakh zügiig bakhtai barisan
Mandakh kommunizmyg tsogtoi zorison

Saikhan mongolyn tselger oron
Saruul khegjliin delger güren
Üyeiin üyed enkhjin badartugai
Üürdiin üürd batjin mandtugai

Translation:

Destroy previous difficulty and oppression
Establish peoples' rights and happiness
Convey everyone's courage
Establish the People's Republic

Beautiful Mongolia's nice country
Expansive country of just prosperity
Forever cherish and prosper
Forever strengthen and prosper

Beloved party's vision embraces
Develop strong people's country
Unwavering will and strength continues
Unstoppable struggle shortens history

Beautiful Mongolia's nice country
Expansive country of just prosperty
Forever cherish and prosper
Forever strengthen and prosper

Connect faith with the Soviet Union
Agree with progressive people
Agree with direction
Bravely follow glorious communism

Beautiful Mongolia's nice country
Expansive country of just prosperty
Forever cherish and prosper
Forever strengthen and prosper

For a newer version (and some nice medals), see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx2uT...eature=related

(Although the scene where they unveil the statue of Chengis the Hutt -- where the tomb of Sukhbaatar and Choibalsan used to stand -- in Sukhbaatar Square makes me a tad angry, but I'm old-fashioned.)

[medals73]

Choibalsan died in 1952, but awards of this prize continued for another ten years, until 1962, when the new State Prize was created to replace it.

There are two varieties of this badge (again, neither numbered or named). The first variety, awarded from 1962 until ca. 1970 was a somewhat crude badge, made of silvered copper (though the silver seems to have evarpoated quite easily and is often entirely gone).

The award of the second variety began around 1970 and, so far as I know, it is still awarded today. It is silver with the State arms in enamel.

Neither of these has a document.

A third variety is shown only in the book by Herfurt, with fourteen (rather than ten) rings. As with many things shown in his book, it is otherwise unknown. I consider it either a prototype or highly suspect.