Excellent Driver badge, by the MPS (formerly NKPS) factory, late-1940s.
Brass, enamels. Measures 46.7 x 35.5 mm; weighs 15.8 g not including the screw plate. This rare version of the badge features a distinctive "snub-nosed" truck of the YaG-10 model and red enamel covering the lower tip of the shield under the truck. Note also a very distinctive wide and smooth scrolls of the embellishment on top of the shield.
This variation is rated "very rare" (rarity rating 5 out of 5) in the Breast Badges of the Red Army, 1941-1945 by B. Airapetyan /see p. 120 fig. 6/. In very fine to excellent condition. The enamel retains beautiful luster through
Brass, enamels. Measures 46.7 x 35.5 mm; weighs 15.8 g not including the screw plate. This rare version of the badge features a distinctive "snub-nosed" truck of the YaG-10 model and red enamel covering the lower tip of the shield under the truck. Note also a very distinctive wide and smooth scrolls of the embellishment on top of the shield.
This variation is rated "very rare" (rarity rating 5 out of 5) in the Breast Badges of the Red Army, 1941-1945 by B. Airapetyan /see p.
120 fig. 6/.
In very fine to excellent condition. The enamel retains beautiful luster throughout - very uncommon for a Soviet combat proficiency badge of
1940s - and appears almost perfect to the unaided eye. There is a single minuscule surface flake at the lower edge of the sickle which is
practically unnoticeable without magnification and a couple of even smaller, microscopic contact marks; the red enamel is otherwise pristine.
The white band has a couple of tiny flakes as well, but very little other wear or rubbing. The raised details of the truck and scrolls are
extremely well-preserved and crisp, essentially perfect; a very good amount of the original gilt finish is clearly visible in their recessed
areas. Much of the fragile grey finish on the edge of the shield is also intact. The gilt on the reverse is pristine and bright. The screw
post is over 10.5 mm long, of full or near full length, and includes original MPS screw plate. Overall, a beautiful example of the extremely
uncommon version of the otherwise fairly common military proficiency award.
$230.00 Add to cart