Figure 3. Order of the Red Star 4. Order for Service to The

Figure 3. Order of the Red Star 4. Order for Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces (Figure 4): This 1974 three class award is the only military order created after the Patriotic War. Since almost all the other high military orders could only be won during wartime, this order was specifically designed to reward peacetime contributions to defense. Like the orders of Glory and Labor Glory, the recipient had to win the 3rd Class to be eligible for the 2nd Class, and the 2nd Class to be eligible for the 1st Class. Thus, the 3rd Class is around in rather large numbers, probably 100,000 by 1991. Though I can only guess, there are likely between 2,000 and 3,000 of the 2nd Class, and probably fewer than 400 of the 1st Class. These are guesses because the most recent litera- ture does not give up-to-date or final numbers for these awards. At the present time, the 3rd Class is available with some regularity in the West for about $700. While the 2nd Class appears to be rather easily found on the Moscow black market, I have actually seen this piece offered only once in the West for about $1,500. Evidently, the 1st Class can now be found for sale in Russia, but I have never heard a definite price for it there, much less in the West. It is possible that as time goes by, all classes will be seen with much greater regularity as they pass from the hands of the original reicipents -- most of whom are probably still high officers in the military services of the former Soviet republics. Figure 4. Order for Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces 5. Order of Glory (Figure 5): Perhaps the most interesting of all the Patriotic War era awards, the three classes of the Order of Glory were reserved for heroic acts of bravery of enlisted men. The black and orange ribbon was the same used for the imperial Order of St. George and the St. George Cross. Clearly, Stalin was appeal- ing to Russian patriotism and the military glory and honor of the past embodied in the old St. George Cross. Like that old award, recipients had to win the lower grade before moving on to the higher. The statutes governing the award of the Order of Glory are highly detailed and specific about what acts of heroism must be per- formed to receive the award. Reading them today, one cannot but marvel at what it took to gain this honor once, much less to receive all three classes. Those who held all three classes were honored in the former USSR on the same level as Heroes of the Soviet Union. As with the Hero Stars, books have been written telling the stories of those wearing the classes of the Order of Glory. These awards of war were not given for strategy, tactics or leadership directed from a field headquarters, but for acts involving blood, bullets and death in trenches and in the air. The 1st Class Order of Glory is solid gold. Like the other solid gold awards -- Order of Lenin, Gold Star Medal for Hero of the Soviet Union, Gold Hammer and Sickle Medal for Hero of Socialist Labor-- the serial number is stamped on the reverse. All the other, mainly silver or gold plated orders have hand-engraved serial numbers. Figure 5. Order of Glory 26 About 2,500 of the 1st Class were awarded. Only in the last few months have I heard of any available for sale in the West: once for $1,750, and the other for $2,000. Given its scarcity, I wouldn’t expect the price to come down much from that level in the near future. On the contrary, it may go up. From time to time, I regret to say, you will encounter dealers who are selling a gilded silver Order of Glory as a 1st Class specimen. These are FAKES, made to deceive collectors. I have seen four or five of them myself. They are 3rd Class specimens coated with cheap gilt. they have either high serial numbers that are hand-engraved, or scratched-out numbers. An honest dealer will not carry such an item, or will tell you immediately that it is not genuine. If you meet a dealer who has one of these and isn’t honest in describing what it is, you have met a dealer with whom you should cease to do any business. These fakes are clearly not copies made for everyday wear, since such copies would not be engraved with a serial number or be cast of solid silver. The Order of Glory, 2nd Class, also challenges the collector to be on the lookout for fakes. A genuine specimen will have a hand-engraved serial number on the reverse below 46,360. Knowledgable dealers tell me that it is very difficult to be 100% sure even when the serial number is correct, since 3rd Class specimens with low numbers could have had gilt added to the central obverse medallion, though theo- retically, gilt applied after the enamel would melt or damage the enamel. I suppose you could scratch the enamel under a microscope to see if there is gilt between the enamel and the cast silver, but this seems to be a rather extreme and self-defeating method to guarantee authenticity. The best you can do is work with a reputable dealer and find a proper serial number. The price is currently $200-250. With almost 1,000,000 awarded, the 3rd Class Order of Glory can be found regu- larly for about $100, give or take 20%. Many are worn or beaten up, so if you have to spend a little more to get one that is near EF condition without too many nicks or scratches, I think it is worth it. Orders and Medals for Motherhood Like the Hero Mother Order (see the May 1992 JOMSA), these awards were founded in July 1944, to honor mothers with many children, mothers who had lost children in the War, and to encourage having children. Basic information for each of these awards is provided below. Make sure that in each case when you purchase, the badge is hanging from the correct metal and enamel suspension bow, since the bow is different for each of the five awards. 6. Order of Maternal Glory (Figures 6, Figure 7, and Figure 8): 1 st Class: Well over 500,000 awarded for having nine children. $175 or less. 2nd Class: Well over 1,000,000 awarded for having eight children. $125 or less. 3rd Class: Well over 2,000,000 awarded for having seven children. $75 or less. .

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