Medals 20, 15 and 20 years Irreproachable
Service in the Ministry of Interior of the USSR MVD (Type
1) and 50 years of Soviet Militia
This handsome but un-documented set must have belonged to
a policeman who served at least until 1967. All the medals
for Irreproachable service are of type 2 with letters MVD
USSR on the reverse and are considered R2 (the three on the
right of the thumbnail). The 20 years medal with the red enamelled
star is a variation 1 made of silver (thus issued between
1958 and 1960; the latter variation 2 was only silver plated).
The gold plated star (2nd from right ) is for 15 years and
the one on far right is for 10 years. The latter two were
actually less common as at the beginning of a career more
mistakes were made while as pension time grew nearer awards
were easier to obtain.
The 50 years of the Soviet Militia was instituted on 20 November
1967. It is a commemorative medal (left on thumbnail) made
of nickel-silver with some 250.000 awarded (R1 rarity).
This is variation 2 with one LMD stamp on the reverse of
the ring (variation 3 has two
LMD stamps and variation 1 none).
To see detail click on thumnail but be prepared for longer
download (400Kb).
| 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. |
