Silver-plated brass, enamels. Measures 37.9 mm in height from the bottom to the top of the 12 o'clock point of the banner (not including the flagpole finial), 37.2 mm in width; weighs 15.3 g, not including the screw plate. This is a Variation 2 badge featuring flat reverse, the Sub-variation 1 with a relatively smooth ornamental edge. The fine quality of this badge is very characteristic of Soviet Mint manufacture.

In very fine to excellent condition. There are no significant flaws. The red enamel appears practically perfect to the unaided eye and retains beautiful luster. A

Silver-plated brass, enamels. Measures 37.9 mm in height from the bottom to the top of the 12 o'clock point of the banner (not including the flagpole finial), 37.2 mm in width; weighs 15.3 g, not including the screw plate. This is a Variation 2 badge featuring flat reverse, the Sub-variation 1 with a relatively smooth ornamental edge. The fine quality of this badge is very characteristic of Soviet Mint manufacture.

In very fine to excellent condition. There are no significant flaws. The red enamel appears practically perfect to the unaided eye and retains beautiful luster. A careful examination however reveals a couple of tiny surface flakes in the upper right corner and along the top edge of the banner, all of them nearly unnoticeable without magnification. There are also a few minuscule contact marks on the banner and a few microscopic flakes along the lower edge of the red plaque with the inscription "Halhingol". The turquoise enamel in the center is perfect, and so is the beautiful gold-green-and-purple enamel representing the steppe. To reiterate, the enamel on the badge is very well preserved overall, and most of the wear to the red enamel is nearly invisible without magnification.

The details of the cavalryman and his horse are perfect and exceptionally crisp; the silver plating is almost pristine, showing only the tiniest, barely detectable wear to the high points of the artwork. The screw post is full length, nearly 14 mm, and although slightly bent, remains fully functional. Included is an original period screw plate with the Soviet mint logo.

This badge was awarded to participants of the major battle against the Japanese Kwantung Army in Manchuria in the summer of 1939, known in the west as Nomonhan Incident. Although largely obscured by the European events that soon followed- i.e. the German and then, Soviet invasion of Poland - the Battle of Khalkin-Gol is considered by some historians to be the true starting point of the Second World War. Given the importance of the battle, it is not too surprising that the badge was later upgraded in rank by the Mongolian government to be considered a medal. Its flat back version was issued mostly to Mongolian troops and also some of the Soviets who had not received the badge earlier. According to the research by Khuujii, the date of manufacture for all Variation 2 badges is 1946, and only 5504 in total were produced - a small number by the Soviet standards.

/Khuujii Urnukh, The Orders and Medals of the Mongolian People's Republic , pp. 180, 181/.
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