TRANSDNIESTRIAN
Click on award for
recto/verso or use Flash
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| Memorial
Cross of Honour of Ataman Kucher |
 |
 This
is a very rare piece as only about five hundred were produced
to commemorate the Ataman of the Black See Cossacks Colonel
Kucher. Only cossacks who served with the Ataman (killed
in battle in during the brief but bloody civil war in June
1992 in the town of Bender (Tighina) were decorated. Bearers
of this award also include the late Soviet (briefly also Russian
turned politician and Governor of a region) General A.I. Lebed
who during the civil war in post-Soviet Moldova commanded
the 14th Soviet Army (also famous for being the last Soviet
soldier to cross the bridge from Afghanistan when the Soviets
pulled out). The second person of interest with this award
is Igor Nikolajevich Smirnov, "President" of the
self proclaimed Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic that remains
a separatist territory with all the trappings of a State including
award ceremonies. Reputedly this medal was made in Chisinau,
the capital of Moldova proper. I am trying to find out how
many people received this medal and for what.
| 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. | |
