Armed Forces Europe Appraisal

Soviet Jubilee Medal: 70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR

This is a Soviet military commemorative medal, struck in brass, issued in 1988 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the USSR. The circular medal features a relief composition on the obverse showing the profiles of three servicemen: a pilot, a sailor, and a soldier wearing a SSh-40 pattern helmet, positioned above the dates 1918-1988. These figures are framed by laurel branches and topped with a five-pointed star containing a hammer and sickle. The medal is suspended from a pentagonal aluminum mount covered with a moiré silk ribbon. The ribbon pattern consists of red edges with a central green stripe flanked by thin yellow and sky-blue stripes, symbolizing different branches of the military. The metal displays a natural golden-brown patina consistent with age, with minor surface oxidation and light scratching across the high relief areas. The ribbon appears well-preserved with some minor fraying at the corners and slight fading. The craftsmanship reflects the mass-produced but high-quality standards of the late-period Soviet mints, designed for distribution to all active personnel in the Soviet Army, Navy, and Border Troops at the time of the jubilee.