Hero Titles and Decorations of Socialist five arms. On the obverse it has smooth rays with two Romania faces. In the center of the medal the sickle and the hammer are raised in relief. The initials of the Socialist Republic of Romania are also raised in relief. The reverse Charles H. Pankey of the medal has a smooth surface, and on the edge, in relief, a thin circle. In the center, the inscription EROU Like other countries dominated during the Soviet era, AL MUNCII SOCIALISTE (Hero of Socialist Labor) is the Romanian Peoples Republic and its successor, the raised in relief. The diameter of the circumference of Romanian Socialist Republic, emulated the USSR award the star is 35.5 mm. The dimensions of the sickle and "procedures" by establishing awards of title. Socialist the hammer from the handle to the highest point are Romania had four titles: Hero of Labor, Heroine Mother, 14ram and 13mm respectively. The dimensions of the Hero of the RSR, and Agricultural Hero. Each title had a letters in the words EROUAL MUNCII are 2cm x lcm, distinctive decoration which the awardee was presented. and the word SOCIALISTE is 1.50cm x 0.75cm. The Romanian Hero of Labor and Heroine Mother insignia emulated the USSR equivalent.

Hero of Socialist Labor

The Title "Hero of Socialist Labor" (Erou al Muncii Socialiste) was the first title and the highest distinction that could be conferred by the Romanian Peoples Republic (1947-1965) and Romanian Socialist Republic (1965-1989) until the 1971 establishment of the Title of Hero of the Romanian Socialist Republic. The Labor Hero was established September 28, 1951 and implemented by Decree 168, Buletinul Oficial 97 which was modified under Decree 140, Buletinul Oficial 39, September 19, 1972.

Article 2 of the Decree states: "The title of Hero of Socialist Labor is awarded to persons who, through their remarkable activity and results obtained in various areas of the political, Figure 1: Obverse (left)and reverse (right) of the first type of RPR economic, scientific and sociocultural life, or decoration of a Hero of Socialist Labor. through the contribution brought to the strengthening of the armed forces and to the defense of the social and state order, have distinguished themselves The top star point has an attached 4mm gilt-colored ring in an extraordinary way in the work of construction of which was used to connect the star to a rec[angular in our country." suspension device 25ram in length by 15ram in width. The suspension obverse held a silk ribbon. The In the hierarchy of the honor titles, the title of Hero of suspension was attached to clothing with a brooch pin Socialist Labor is situated immediately after the title of fastener located on the reverse. The early RPR first type Hero of the Socialist Republic of Romania (Article 3). suspension devices were attached with a screw back. The The persons distinguished with the title of Hero of ribbon of the medal The Sickle and the Hammer is red Socialist Labor were exempted from taxation for all gains moire, 20mm in width. and profits realized through work and their labor (Article 5). The decoration to identify the Title is a five-pointed The Title and decoration could be awarded more than gold star 30mm in diameter referred to as the "Hammer once. Along with the decoration, the recipient was and the Sickle." The regulations of the Decree describe presented with a case and document which was contained the insignia as: within a red leather tube. The decoration was worn on the left side of the chest below the insignia of the title of "The Hammer and the Sickle has the shape of a star with Hero of the Socialist Republic of Romania, but before

Vol. 55, No. 5 17 Figure 2: Colored document presented to a Hero of Socialist Labor.

Figure 3: Obverse (left) and reverse (right) of the first type of RSR Hammer and Sickle decoration of a Hero of Socialist Labor.

18 JOMSA the insignia of other honor titles, orders and medals.

Insignia Variants and Approximate Number of Awards Authorized

RPR

30 1st type, 1951-1959:30 grams of gold (Figure 1); screw back device on the reverse of the ribbon bar - serial numbered - color document; 45.5 mm x 33.5mm (Figure 2).

30 2nd type, 1959 - 1965:20 grams of gold; pinback on ribbon device serial number- numbered and hallmarked - 34.5 mm x 26mm; black and white document.

RSR (lst type) (Figure 3) Figure 4: Obverse (left) and reverse (right) of the tombac version of the 2nd Type of RSR Hammer and Sickle decoration awarded 350 1966-1986:16 grams of gold; the ribbon to a Hero of Socialist Labor. -red with two yellow stripes-serial numbered; reverse top of suspension device hall length. The initials R.ER. (Romanian People’s Republic) -marked. MS on pin and reverse of suspension were embossed on the top ray of the star until 1966 when device document similar to RPR 2nd type. the initials R.S.R. (Romanian Socialist Republic) were embossed on the top ray. The Star was suspended by an 5OO Tombac version with no marks - document as ornamental golden clasp attached to a gold and red other orders. enamel bar. The bar has a brooch pin fastener on the reverse with MAMA EROINA embossed in gilt on the RSR (2d type) suspender bar.

30 1986-1989:12 grams of gold, pin back on a Insignia Variants and Approximate ribbon device [tri-color ribbon]. Number of Awards Authorized

5O Tombac version (Figure 4) (silver - gilt 2nd RPR type RSR Insignia are known to exist.) 150 - most numbered Gold Hero documents were usually hand signed between 1972 and 1975 by the Romanian dictator Nicolae RSR Ceausescu (Figure 5). Tombac Hero documents were stamped with the Ceausescu signature. 20 - gold and silver

Heroine Mother 500 - tombac- some have been observed with the hallmark "MS" on the piece holding The Title "Heroine Mother" (Mama Eroina) was gran~’ed the pin to the suspension device. (Figure to all Romanian mothers with 10 or more children. It 6). Heroine Mother documents were 32 was established 8 November, 1951 and implemented by mm x 22 mm and stamp-signed by Nicolae Decree 195, Buletinul Oficial 109. Ceausescu (Figure 7). (A silver gilt version has been observed in the RSR period; it is The decoration to identify the Title was of two piece hallmarked MS and has a silver hallmark. construction with a five-pointed beveled, gold star superimposed over silver scalloped rays of differing

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