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.

I have carefully examined the high-resolution images of this Soviet Jubilee Medal: 70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Based on my visual inspection, the medal appears to be an authentic late-period Soviet mint strike from 1988. The relief details on the obverse—particularly the distinct profiles of the pilot, sailor, and soldier—show the correct manufacturing depths and die consistency typical of the era. The brass material exhibits a natural golden-brown patina with minor surface oxidation, which is expected for an award of this age. The pentagonal aluminum mount and moire silk ribbon correspond to the standard specifications for this specific jubilee. This medal was minted in massive quantities (approximately 9.8 million) for distribution across the Soviet military apparatus. Consequently, rarity is extremely low. The market is currently saturated with such specimens, and they are frequently sold as entry-level collectibles or historical artifacts. Current market comparables typically trade in the $10 to $20 range depending on the freshness of the ribbon and the lack of deep scratches. The condition of this piece is 'Fine to Very Fine,' with slight fraying and fading on the ribbon being the primary detractions. Please note that while the visual evidence strongly suggests authenticity, a definitive verification would require a physical examination to weigh the piece in grams and check for specific metal density. In-person inspection would also confirm if the ribbon is a period-original silk or a modern synthetic replacement. Provenance documentation, such as the original award booklet (udostoverenie), would increase the historical interest, though it would not significantly elevate the market price due to the sheer volume of these medals in circulation.