Russia – Soviet: An extremely rare third type Order of Lenin ‘Silver Head’ variety, numbered 2491 issued to Combine Operator F.A. Ponomarev of the Shchuchanskaya MTS of the Chelyabinsk Region, awarded to him on 13th December 1935 along with 67 other Combine Operators for harvesting 600 hectares per season and ‘excellent work on the combine, which exceeded the norm by 100-400 percent. Approximately 1,100 awards of this variety of the Order of Lenin were made, many would have been scrapped or confiscated during the Soviet Purges of the late 1930s, making this one of only a handful of these awards to appear on the market in recent years.
Order of Lenin, type 3, ‘Silver Head’, screwback, with original silver screwplate, the reverse numbered 2491.
Condition: evidence of wear, Very fine
As awarded to F.A. Ponomarev, a Combine operator of Shchuchanskaya MTS from the Chelyabinsk Region. One of a batch of 68, exclusively Combine Operators awarded the Order of Lenin on December 13, 1935 for those who harvested more than 600 hectares per season were awarded for ‘excellent work on the combine, which exceeded the norm by 100-400 percent.
I.V. Shchipunov from the same Shchuchanskaya MTS was similarly awarded an Order of Lenin by the same of decree of December 13, 1935.
After the overwhelming majority of the peasants joined the collective farms in the Trans-Urals, the question of their organisational and economic strengthening became of paramount importance.
By the decision of the January 1933 Plenum of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of 1933, political departments were created under the MTS and state farms, which launched a lot of work on the political, organisational and economic strengthening of the Trans-Ural collective farms and state farms. Thus, in the area of activity of the political department of the Kurtamysh MTS at the collective farms, 10 party members and 8 candidate groups were created. The collective farms were cleared of alien and decayed elements.
The labour successes of the Trans-Urals were deservedly noted by the Motherland: The Order of Lenin was awarded to tractor drivers of the Kurgan MTS: B.M. Smolin and E.A. Murashev, the combine operators of the Shchuchanskaya MTS: F.A. Ponomarev and I.V Shipunov, and the foreman of the Makushinsky grain farm V.A. Ushakov.
By the end of 1937, more than 94 percent of all peasant farms in the Southern Trans-Urals were united in collective farms. Collectivization in the region had been successfully completed.
The type 3, ‘Silver Head’ Lenin, an extremely scarce variation of this award, was issued approximately 1,100 times between sometime in 1935 until 11th June 1936. The order is exactly like the previous variation of this award the type 2 ‘Gold Head’ with the exception that the profile of Lenin and all the area within the enamelled circle is silver-plated over the gold. The order measures 38.5mm in height by 38mm in width. The serial number is stamped above the mint mark on the reverse.
The type 3 Order of Lenin, was replaced by the type 4 ‘Platinum Head’ Order of Lenin on 11th June 1936 until June 1943, when it was replaced by the type 5 circular five sided suspension variety in line with the new Soviet award system requiring Orders to be mounted for wear in this fashion, from 1944-1957 hundreds of thousands of these awards were issued for long service in the armed forces or in civilian occupations, but numbers during the early part of the war and particularly before the war were extremely low, explaining the importance of this award.
The stature of the Order of Lenin reads as follows:
1. The Order of Lenin is the highest award of the USSR and is awarded for exceptionally outstanding achievements in the revolutionary movement, labour activity, defence of the socialist homeland, establishing international friendship and cooperation, strengthening peace, and any other outstanding activities done for the Soviet government and society.
2. The Order of Lenin is awarded to citizens of the USSR, institutions, establishments, organisations, military units, and ships, federal and autonomous republics, krais, oblasts, autonomous oblasts, autonomous okrugs, regions, cities and other population centres. Foreign individuals, institutions, establishments, organisations, and population centres may also be awarded the Order of Lenin.
3. The Order of Lenin is awarded for:
Exceptional achievement in the areas of economic, scientific-technical and social-cultural development of Soviet society, increasing the effectiveness and quality of work; outstanding merit in strengthening the might of the Soviet State or brotherly friendship among the peoples of the USSR.
Especially important accomplishments in the defence of the Socialist Homeland; strengthening the defensive capabilities of the USSR.
Outstanding revolutionary, governmental, and social-political activity.
Especially important work in developing friendship and cooperation between the people of the Soviet Union and other governments.
Exceptional achievements in building socialist cooperation; developing the international communist, workers and national liberation movement in the struggle for peace, democracy, and social progress.
Any other outstanding contributions to the Soviet government and society.
4. The awarding of the Order of Lenin to individuals for selfless labour contributions and is generally conducted after the individuals have previously been recognised with other awards.
5. The Order of Lenin is presented to individuals granted with the titles ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’ or ‘Hero of Socialist Labour’ and also to cities or fortresses granted the respective titles of ‘Hero City’ or ‘Hero Fortress’.
6. The Order of Lenin is worn on the left breast with the highest precedence over other orders of the USSR.
