Hero of the Soviet Union Medal

The Hero of the USSR is an honorary title instituted on 1 August 1939 awarded to military and civilian personnel or for collective deeds of heroism to the USSR or the socialist society. This one is numbered 2608 and weighs 21.5g without the hanger (34,264± 1,5 g total). The 950/1000 gold content is 20,521±0,903 g (and silver 12,186± 0,927 g in hanger). According to my research was never issued and is thus quite a rarity.

This is the second type and was awarded from 19 June 1943 until the breakup of the USSR in 1991 (type 1 was from 1 August 1939 with only some 1.000 issued). The hanger is made of silver with gold plating and is nearly square shaped (26x21,5mm) and differs from type 1 which was smaller and more rectangular (25x15mm). It also has a connecting ring bewteen the medal and hanger which type 1 did not. The fastening plate has the words Monetnij Dvor protruding with a diameter of 18,5 mm (type 1 had the word Mondvor and a diameter of 17,75mm; silver 3.4g.). The lowest known number is 1355, the highest 11660 stamped in the bottom part of the medal on the reverse. The known range of type 1 was 133 – 717 and the numbers were stamped on the top of the medal.

.

I also have a large diploma of the Supreme Soviet (the first WWII issue) but no coresponding award to it. My research show that it was issued posthumously on 21.7.1944 to Ivan Pavlovich Martinenko who was Ukrainian peasant with 7 classes, married at the age of 18 to a 22 year old Elena Anotonovna on 1 December 1940 and that joined the Great Patriotic War in 1941; he served as a commander in the 272nd division of the 7th Karelian Army and was killed in action during the Leningrad defence operation on 16.7.1944; he also received the Order of Lenin).