"Honest Deed" Medal.

[medals73]

Created 24 February 1959 for life saving and the protection of public property from fires, floods, and other natural disasters as well as for fighting crime and the preservation of the public order. The first award went to an eleven year old schoolgirl who saved three children from a fire.

(Unrukh, pp. 168-76)

It is one of those medals where knowing the stories behind them would be absolutely fascinating.

Strangely, for a socialist, athiest, and in any case non-Christian State, the first type of this medal had an obverse dominated by a red cross on a blue background.

Urnukh's research has revealed the initial order (1-500) of these medals in 1959. In 1964, an additional 100 medals were ordreed from Moscow (501-600). Within these orders, however, there seems to have been considerable manufacturing and design variability. Urnukh has records of observed Type 1 serial numbers from 5 to 517, but these aren't broken down by variety (and his typology doesn't match mine). Tentatively:

Type 1.1 -- Cross design on the obverse, painted, stamped serial number (observed serial number range 10-76 -- #76 shown below) -- this is Urnukh's Type 1.2.

Type 1.2 -- Cross design, enameled, leaves enameled green, stamped serial number (only one specimen observed, 13) -- this is Urnukh's Type 1.4.

Type 1.3 -- Cross design, enameled, stamped serial number (observed serial number range 249-381) -- this is Urnukh's Type 1.1.

Type 1.4 -- Cross design, enameled, hand-engraved serial number (I have no reports of this one, but I would guess it might be the 501-600 batch?) -- This is Urnukh's Type 1.3.

[medals73]

In 1967, the medal was redesigned (it is widely believed that this was done to remove the offending cross) and an order was placed with Moscow for 1000 medals. These were not numbered (the new statutes did not call for them to be numbered).

Type 2.1 -- red obverse, unnumbered (shown below)

[medals73]

In 1974, a new batch of 1000 medals was ordered, and these were to be numbered, beginning from 1001.

Type 2.2 -- red obverse, numbered (observed range is 1027-1232) -- this variety is still being awarded (?) -- documented specimen (#1046, awarded 1999) shown below

[Bob]

I don't think I ever posted pics of the following award...

A documented (slight water damage) unnumbered Medal for Selflessness. The medal was awarded to Namdag Chimid on May 8, 1979. So, curious what he did in terms of saving a life or protecting the state property.

Well, my memory was refreshed when the following came in my inbox today:

An award decree for a posthumously awarded medal for selflessness. Amazing bit of history behind the person and medal coming to life!

===============================
DECREE OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S GREAT KHURAL
OF THE MONGOLIAN PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC

May 8, 1979. # 123, Ulaanbaatar

On awarding the Medal for Selflessness to some individuals posthumously

The Presidium of the People’s Great Khural decrees:

To award the following individuals, who sacrificed their lives to the cause of protecting the public livestock from the effects of the sudden powerful blizzards that affected the country in April 1979 and thus, honorably fulfilling their citizens’ duties, posthumously with the Medal for Selflessness.

1. Janchivdorj Lhagvasuren Senior zoological technician at the “Youth” state farm in Tuv province

2. Dorjkhuu Ragchaabazar Driver at the above state farm

3. Namdag Chimid Sheepherder at the “Urnul” negdel of Ulziit soum, Arkhangai province


Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Great Khural Yu. Tsedenbal

Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Great Khural S. Jalan-Aajav

Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Great Khural N. Luvsanravdan

Secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Great Khural Ts. Gotov

Presidium members S. Bataa, B. Lamjav, G. Ochirbat, S. Udval, L.Tudev