Soviet Medals

Medal for Strengthening Combat Alliance
Established 25 May 1979. Awarded to military servicemen, employees of State Security (KGB), Ministry of Internal Affairs organs (MVD), citizens of Warsaw Treaty States and other Socialist States for merit in strengthening combat alliance and for military cooperation. Made of an aluminum alloy with red enamel. Approximately 20,000 were issued.
Type 1 R3
	No further info available. full obverse pic detail pic

Medal for Distinguished Service in Guarding the State Border of the USSR
Established 13 July 1950. Awarded to border troops, servicemen and civilians for outstanding military deeds related to state frontier security. Gold medal awarded, on the same basis, exclusively to border troops. It ranks highest among the awards for public service probably because of the great dangers facing guards along the extremely long borders of the USSR. ( The first Russians killed by Hitler's army in 1941 were border guards ). Until February 1966, the medal was constructed of silver. After this, it was constructed of German silver ( Copper, Zinc, and Nickel Alloy ) then a copper-nickel alloy. Approximately 67,000 were issued.
Variation 1 R3
	Silver. full obverse pic detail pic
Variation 2 R2
	Silver-plated alloy. full obverse pic detail pic
Variation 3 R2
	Copper-nickel alloy. full obverse pic detail pic

Rarity Key

A: Abundant, readily available, often in wholesale quantities.
C: Common, always available. Occasionally in quantity.
R1: Usually available without a long delay. Difficult to find in quantity.
R2: Scarce to rare, less seldom available.
R3: Rare. Difficult to find.
R4: Very rare. Demand outstrips supply, and specimens, when available are often eagerly sought.
R5: Extremely rare and seldom available. Collector may have to search for a few years to locate one.
R6: Of the highest rarity. Very difficult to obtain.
R7: Almost never available. Most collectors will not have a chance to acquire these pieces.
R8: Never been on the market. Almost impossible to obtain.
R*: Not available for collections.

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Look up recorded serial numbers of Soviet and Mongolian orders and medals.