Silver gilt, enamel, riveted 3-piece construction. Measures 49.9 mm in height, 48.8 mm in width; weighs 37.8 g without the screw plate. Shows stamped "Monetnyi Dvor" mint mark to the center medallion under the screw post. The serial number is engraved at 5 o'clock position in a standard manner; unlike many other Type 2 specimens in this serial number range, there is no evidence of a serial number alteration.

The order is in very fine to excellent condition - extremely uncommon for a Type 2 Nevsky. The enamel has many tiny manufacturing imperfections, possibly a result of overheating during the conversion from the Type 1 at the mint (this was a part of the manufacturing process for all Type 2 Nevskys). There are however no significant flaws acquired later due to wear aside from a couple of minuscule flakes at the tips of the arms and some tiny hairlines and flakes at the base of the top arm, all of them nearly unnoticeable to the naked eye. The center medallion has a few small dings and scratches but its raised details are well preserved, showing only a very light wear to the highest points of the bas-relief portrait. A good amount of the original gilt finish is present on the battleaxes, sword, quiver and wreath. The reverse exhibits a beautiful even toning. The rivets are tight; the attachment of the parts of the badge is very sound.

The screw post is characteristically long, measuring over 16 mm - has not been reduced. An original silver screw plate is included. To reiterate, a Type 2 Nevsky in this condition is a very uncommon find, and this piece is certainly among the best we have handled.

Vasiliy Krylov was born in 1919 in a village in Tver province of Russia (later renamed Kalinin and then given its original name back after the collapse of the USSR). He joined the Red Army in 1939 and probably finished military school to become a commissioned officer. He was on the frontlines of the Patriotic War from 1941. In June 1944 Krylov served as a submachine gun platoon commander. His 187th Rifle Regiment, part of the 72nd Rifle Division, 21st Army, was engaged in the offensive against the Finnish troops at Vyborg (Viipuri), aiming to drive the enemy from the Karelian Isthmus and invade the interior of Finland (ultimately, the offensive had the effect of taking Finland out of the war). On 10 June, at the very beginning of the Vyborg offensive, Krylov's platoon successfully broke through enemy defenses and captured a small Finnish settlement of Multemaki without any losses to its own men. For his skillful leadership and excellent training of his troops, Krylov was recommended for the Order of the Red Star by the regiment commander Lt. Col. Chernysh. However, the command of the 72nd Rifle Division drastically upgraded the award to the Order of Alexander Nevsky, which was bestowed upon Krylov on 10 July 1944.

It must be said that at the time, the Order of Alexander Nevsky was a relatively uncommon decoration: instituted in July 1942, it was awarded very sparingly in the first two years of its existence. Krylov's actions were perfectly aligned with the order's statute which said that the order was to be awarded to Red Army commanders for quick initiative and decisive actions, causing maximum damage to the enemy with minimal harm to their own troops.

In early February 1945, Krylov's 72nd Division, then a part of the 117th Rifle Corps, 21st Army of Marshal Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front, was on the western bank of the Oder, fighting to expand the bridgehead near the town of Oppeln (modern-day Opole, Poland) and threatening to envelope the "fortress" city of Breslau from the south. On 5 February, just three days before a decisive breakthrough of the 1st Ukrainian Front on the Oder along the broad front from Oppeln almost all the way north to Frankfurt, Lieutenant Vasiliy Krylov was killed in action. He was recommended for the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd cl. in a terse commendation by this regiment commander and was posthumously awarded with it on 25 May 1945.

Research Materials: b/w photocopy of the award record card; award commendations for both WW2 decorations; relevant parts of the award decrees for both decorations.