Silver, enamels; measures 50.9 mm in height incl. eyelet, 38.1 mm in width; weighs 38.8 g without the suspension and connecting link.

Issued circa late 1943 as a replacement for a 1942 screw back type. Unlike most other reissues, the serial number has not been altered: this piece is from a special initially unnumbered stock set aside at the mint with the intention to issue to VIPs as a replacement for the now obsolete screw back type.

The mint mark is stamped in a very small font, located near the top, arched (curved down), and measures approximately 7 mm in width. Thi

Silver, enamels; measures 50.9 mm in height incl. eyelet, 38.1 mm in width; weighs 38.8 g without the suspension and connecting link.

Issued circa late 1943 as a replacement for a 1942 screw back type. Unlike most other reissues, the serial number has not been altered: this piece is from a special initially unnumbered stock set aside at the mint with the intention to issue to VIPs as a replacement for the now obsolete screw back type.

The mint mark is stamped in a very small font, located near the top, arched (curved down), and measures approximately 7 mm in width. This kind of mint mark appears only on some of the earliest suspension-type Red Banners of Labor manufactured in 1943 at the Krasnokamsk Mint. Note that according to Mondvor.narod.ru, the "regular" serial number range for this version is 21488 - 35506. This small range is shared with another, less scarce sub-variation that has a curved up, 9-mm mint mark.

There is a small maker's mark between the two upper rivets which appears to be either a numeral 3 or a partly struck В (Cyrillic "V"). The serial number - the lowest we have seen for a suspension-type Red Banner of Labor in at least two decades - is engraved at 6 o'clock position just above the lower rivet. In general, such wartime official duplicates of civilian orders are extremely rare: we have only handled a few in over 30 years of doing business.

Excellent condition, remarkable for such an early issue. The enamel is essentially perfect and shows a beautiful luster; it is free of chips, rubbing or any other wear visible to the naked eye. There are just a few microscopic flakes along the upper edge of the banner and a couple of contact marks, all of it invisible without magnification. The raised details such as the wreath and hammer & sickle emblem are likewise free of wear noticeable to the unaided eye; the fire gilt finish, albeit partly obscured by the attractive untouched silver patina, is still fully present and clearly visible. The reverse is practically pristine and shows very attractive toning to silver. The rivets are completely intact and tight.

Comes on an original suspension device, a WW2 two-layer model in steel with a self-locking pin. The old ribbon shows only a modest amount of wear and staining, remaining sound and attractive. The connecting link appears to be original and although deformed by the weight of the medallion, remains sound with its ends still joined with solder.
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