Silver gilt, enamels; measures 34.4 mm tall, 23.1 mm wide; weighs 15.3 g. Riveted three-piece construction. The reverse shows the circular mint mark of the Moscow Mint. An interesting detail: although the quality of this piece is next to none, the mint "cut corners" in one respect. The red enamel on the Kremlin star is by design the "cold" variety - as opposed to the beautiful "hot-baked" enamel on the banner and plaque. This feature is observed on the other original badges of the XXV Congress and was apparently a necessary compromise due to the difficulty in precisely filling a detail

Silver gilt, enamels; measures 34.4 mm tall, 23.1 mm wide; weighs 15.3 g. Riveted three-piece construction. The reverse shows the circular mint mark of the Moscow Mint. An interesting detail: although the quality of this piece is next to none, the mint "cut corners" in one respect. The red enamel on the Kremlin star is by design the "cold" variety - as opposed to the beautiful "hot-baked" enamel on the banner and plaque. This feature is observed on the other original badges of the XXV Congress and was apparently a necessary compromise due to the difficulty in precisely filling a detail as tiny as the star with the "hot" enamel. The "substitution" technique was occasionally used by the mint on other Soviet decorations of the period, e.g. a tiny strip of red enamel next to the furnace on the Order of Labor Glory 1st cl.

Excellent condition. The enamel is perfect, free of even microscopic contact marks, and shows a beautiful luster. The original fire gilt finish on Lenin's bas-relief, lettering and wreath is well-preserved. The details of the Kremlin tower and bas-relief portrait are pristine.

The badge was issued exclusively to the delegates of the XXV Congress of CPSU unlike various souvenir and commemorative badges and pins. There were reportedly just under 5000 delegates at this congress, so approximately the same number of delegate badges were ever made. For reasons that are not yet clear, the 25th Congress badge is among the hardest to find in the CPSU Delegate series.
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