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My visit to the Monetnij Dvor - "Goznak" in Moscow (21 June 2002)
I finally visited the Moscow "Goznak" mint in the hope of learning more about
Soviet awards only to discover that it is not
that easy! Apparently visitors, especially foreigners
need special permission to vist the museum (it
is still not clear to me whether from the Minister
of Finances or the General Director), however,
one day I shall dutifully write a request hoping
that permission will be granted.
The distinguished Goznak was
founded in 1724 and today is being restructured
to meet new market chalenges. Otherwise one interesting
tid-bit ... apparently most soviet awards were
traditionally produced in the Leningrad Mint.
During WWII when Leningrad was under siege it
was decided to evacuate the most valuable machinery
and technical drawings. All was loaded on a barge
the got bombed and was irretrievably sunk... .
This is a plaque commemorating the 60th Anniversary:
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