HIGHEST
AWARDS
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| Hero
of the Soviet Union Medal |
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 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 2874 and weighs 20.9 g 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).
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 g.). 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.
My research shows that it was issued on 15.5.1946 to a Russian Nikoli Dmitrievich Mishanov born on 1 December 1918 in Kurovo, raion Kalinin, party member from 1943, 7 classes of education, joined the Soviet Army in 1939 and in 1940 graduated from the Voroshilovgrad military academy for pilots. In combat from 1941 with the 16th air army of the 1st Belarus front. By 1945 as Guard Captain completed 169 sorties including 42 deep into enemy held territory. Participated in 38 joint and 14 single air battles and shot down 2 enemy planes. After the war completed the Air Academy and retired as a Colonel in 1965 to live in Odessa where he worked in a house construction combinat. He was also awarded the Order of Lenin, 3 orders of the Red Banner, the Great Patriotic War 1st degree, the Red Star and a number of medals. Deceased on 22 July 1983. I have a fotocopy of his order book.
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I also have a large diploma of the Supreme Soviet (the first WWII issue) but no coresponding award to it.
| 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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