Soviet Order of the Red Star, #2135551, WW2 era. This is GUARANTEED ORIGINAL Soviet award made at the mint and officially awarded during WW2 or immediately after the war's end for WW2 service - NOT a replica or a late post-WW2 issue. The order is of beautiful quality standard for the high Soviet decorations made by the Mint. The star is in STERLING SILVER (925 parts of pure silver out of 1000).
The decoration weighs 30.0 grams not including the screw plate and measures 46.2 mm in height, 48.6 mm in width. The beautifully translucent "hot-baked" red enamel on the arms of the star is of the typically high quality. Note that this version of the Order of the Red Star has pointy arms of the star in comparison with the later, post-war issues.
The center medallion with the Soviet soldier holding a rifle is a separate part soldered to the star base. This piece is a relatively scarce version manufactured in 1945 at the Moscow Platinpribor Factory (MZPP) and probably issued to its recipient before the end of the year. It is from the second MZPP series which was manufactured in 1945 and has the serial number range from 2050000 - 2300000. Typical of MZPP production, it features characteristically sloppy serial number engraving and very small font of the "Monetnyi Dvor" mint mark which is stamped in straight lines.
Unlike many other MZPP Red Stars, the bayonet of the soldier's rifle is not "puncturing" the inner band of the medallion (the tip of the bayonet does not extend beyond that line). The reverse is relatively flat, without a depression in its lower part. The order is in VERY GOOD condition, great for a Soviet award of WW2 period. The enamel looks nice and retains a beautiful luster. There are some very small surface chips near the tips of the lower arms, but they do not penetrate to silver and are hard to notice without a magnifying glass, certainly not too detractive.
There are only a few microscopic contact marks to the enamel elsewhere but no excessive wear or significant damage of any kind. The center medallion is beautifully preserved showing only the slightest wear to the high points of the artwork. There is an attractive patina to silver on both sides.The screw post is full length, approx. 11.5 mm, and includes ORIGINAL WW2 era screw plate (unlike the badge itself, the screw plate is made in white metal rather than silver). Overall, albeit not perfect, this is a very attractive and well-preserved WW2-era piece.