Soviet Victory Medal Appraisal

Soviet Jubilee Medal for 40 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945

This is a circular brass-colored medal, likely made of tombac or brass-plated steel, measuring approximately 32mm in diameter. The obverse depicts a three-dimensional embossed scene featuring a soldier, a female worker, and a collective farmer standing against the background of a Kremlin Spasskaya Tower. Above them, a five-pointed star is etched with the dates '1945-1985' inscribed in Cyrillic script. The design showcases detailed Soviet social-realist artistry, celebrating the combined efforts of the military and the home front. The medal is suspended from a pentagonal aluminum mount covered with a silk moiré ribbon. The ribbon features a distinctive pattern: thin green stripes on the edges, a broad red center, and three black stripes alongside two orange stripes in the center-right, reflecting the Order of St. George/Guards ribbon colors. The physical condition appears worn with a noticeable dark patina on the brass surfaces, particularly in the recessed areas of the design. The ribbon shows slight fraying and color fading consistent with age but remains intact. This commemorative medal was established in the USSR on April 12, 1985, to honor the 40th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.