The Soviet Military Awards Page

Soviet Orders

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  Orders
Order of Victory
Order of Lenin
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Order of Ushakov
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Order of Lenin
Highest national decoration of the Soviet Union. Established 6 April 1930. Awarded to civilians for outstanding services rendered to the State, to members of the armed forces for exemplary service, and to recipients of the titles of Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Socialist Labor. Also awarded to factories, cities, regions, and republics. Originally, this award was very highly regarded. Nikita Khrushchev was the 110th person to receive the award in 1935 for supervision of the excavation of the Moscow Metro(1).
Type 1                                         R5
"Tractor" Lenin. Screwback.
Type 2                                         R5
"Gold Head" Lenin. Screwback.
NOTE: Opinions are welcome regarding if this is a well-worn Type 3.
detail pic
Type 3                                         R4
"Silver Head" Lenin. Screwback.
detail pic
Type 4 Variation 1                             R3       
"Platinum Head" Lenin. Screwback

detail pic
Type 4 Variation 2                             R3       
"Platinum Head" Lenin. Screwback

detail pic
Type 5 Variation 1                             R2       
5 sided suspension. Circular reverse with a dimple.
full obverse pic
detail pic
Type 5 Variation 1     (Victory Parade)      R3
Victory Parade Re-issue. Issued to comply with new award regulations in 1945. Note the low stamped serial number of 14651. This corresponds with a Type 4 Variation 2 screwback.
full obverse pic
detail pic
Type 5 Variation 2                             R3       
5 sided suspension. Circular reverse without a dimple.
full obverse pic
detail pic
Type 6 Variation 1                             R2       
Oval,

(Leningrad Mint) NOTE: serial number location and engraving methods for this type change frequently. See examples below.
full obverse pic
detail pic
Type 6 Variation 1 (serial number variation) R2
Rotating tool engraved serial number just above two bottom rivets.
full obverse pic
detail pic
Type 6 Variation 1 (serial number variation) R2
Stamped serial number just above two bottom rivets.
full obverse pic
detail pic
Type 6 Variation 2                           R2          
Oval,

(Moscow Mint). Stamped number. NOTE: serial number location and engraving methods for this type change frequently. See examples below.
Type 6 Variation 2 (serial number variation) R2
Rotating tool engraved number.
full obverse pic
detail pic
Type 6 Variation 2 (serial number variation) R2
Rotating tool engraved number just below two bottom rivets.
full obverse pic
detail pic

(1) Khrushchev commented regarding the diminishing significance of The Order of Lenin, "..I supervised the excavation of the Moscow Metro, for which I was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1935. The Order had been established in 1930. I believe I was the 110th person to be so honored. So in five years only 110 people in all had been awarded the Order of Lenin. That says something about how highly it was regarded. I think that was as it should have been: the more honor and value attached to the award, the better. Later the Order of Lenin began to be used more widely, and it diminished in significance."
From
"Khrushchev Remembers ", Nikita S. Khrushchev, page 89.
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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