Description: Internationalist Soldier Medal, bronze gilt, obverse displaying the flags of the Soviet Union and Cuba with the inscription “Воин-интернационалист” (Internationalist Soldier), reverse inscribed “Участник защиты кубинской революции 1962” (Participant in the Defense of the Cuban Revolution 1962).
Юбилейная медаль «Сорок лет Победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941—1945 гг.»
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Description: The Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945", with front inscription "1945-1985", and reverse inscription «УЧАСТНИКУ ВОЙНЫ» ("WAR PARTICIPANT") and «40 лет Победы в Великой Отечественной войне 1941—1945 гг.» ("40 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945").
Description: The Order of the Red Star bears the image of a soldier wearing an overcoat and carrying a rifle, encircled by a narrow band bearing the Communist motto «Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!» ("Workers of the world, unite!"), and «СССР» ("USSR") inscribed below. The reverse bore the maker's mark and the award serial number.
Description: The Internationalist Soldier medal bears the inscription «Воину-интернационалисту» ("to the Internationalist Soldier"). The reverse has no design or inscription.
Notes: Officially issued in 1988 to veterans of conflicts in Korea, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, Vietnam, Syria, Lebanon, Angola, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Laos.
Медаль "60 лет взятия Берлина"
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Description: The "60 years since the Capture of Berlin" medal bears the inscription «Взятие Берлина, 60 лет» ("Capture of Berlin, 60 years"). The reverse is inscribed with the date of the end of the Battle of Berlin, May 2 1945.
Description: The Technical School Graduate badge has the official state seal of the USSR, with the emblem of vocational schools below. The reverse has no design or inscription.
Notes: Issued beginning in 1966 and awarded to graduates of a vocational / technical institute in the USSR.
Знак «Победитель соцсоревнования»
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Description: The Socialist Emulation / Competition award bears the inscription «Победитель соцсоревнования» ("Winner of Socialist Emulation), and the year of the contest. The reverse has no design or inscription.
Notes: Issued from 1973-1980 and awarded to workers who fulfilled (or over-fulfilled) that year's production plan.
Various pins
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Description: The top pin is a blue St. George's Ribbon trailing behind the Red Star with the Hammer and Sickle, likely a Victory Day pin.
Notes: Obviously issued in the Soviet era, before the construction of the beautiful Kul Sharif Mosque in the 2000s. See travel log for more notes.
Значок города-героя "Тула"
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Description: This pin from the hero-city of Tula bears the city's name and moniker, and displays its World War II monument, "Героическим защитникам Тулы в 1941 году", "Heroic Defenders of Tula in 1941".
Notes: See travel log for more notes.
Значок города "Суздаль"
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Description: This pin from the city of Suzdal has the city's name inscribed above, with "Золотое кольцо" ("Golden Ring") below, a reference to the ring of ancient and storied Russian cities near Moscow. The city's unofficial seal during the Soviet era is in the center.
Notes: Obviously issued prior to 1991. See travel log for more notes.
Значок города "Великий Новгород"
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Description: This pin from (Great) Novgorod to the north of Moscow has the city's name inscribed around the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, one of the oldest churches in Russia. The city's seal is beneath.
Description: This pin from the city of Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) has he year of its founding, 1221, and the year its 750th anniversary was celebrated, 1971, inscribed above, with the city's name below, along with "750 лет" ("750 years"). In the center is the city's seal.
Notes: Issued in 1971. See travel log for more notes.
Значок города "Москва"
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Description: This pin from the city of Moscow shows its "Hero City" designation, along with an image of the corresponding medal. A Kremlin tower, perhaps the Troitskaya, features prominently.
Notes: Issued in 1971. See travel log for more notes.
Great Patriotic War pin
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Description: A pin reflectiong an important moment in Soviet history:
Description: A pin reflectiong an important moment in Soviet history:
Perestroika, 1985-1991
A Soviet flag emblazoned with the slogan "Я за Перестройку" ("I'm for Perestroika")
Notes: Unknown provenance.
Prickly pear pin
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Description: A pin displaying an image of Opuntia phaeacantha, a species of prickly pear cactus. The species name is below. The image is surrounded with the name "Всесоюзное объединение клубов любителей кактусов" (All-Union Association of Cactus Lover), with the groups acronym, ВОКЛК (VOKLK), below.
Notes: The group was formed in the late 1980s and then reportedly ceased activity as the economic crisis kicked in.