The Order of the White Eagle: An Imperial Legacy at Auction
At an auction held in Berlin on June 22, 2024, a historically significant lot was presented – the Order of the White Eagle. This order, of Polish origin, was incorporated into the Russian awards system in 1831 by Emperor Nicholas I.
The starting price for the lot was €24,000. During the bidding, it was sold for €30,000. A 25% auction fee, amounting to €7,500, must be added to this sum. Thus, the final cost for the buyer was €37,500.
Awards of Heroes of the Soviet Union
Among the lots were awards belonging to distinguished individuals. The Gold Star of a Hero of the Soviet Union, number 6805, awarded to the Soviet flying ace Lieutenant General Vasily Polikarpovich Strelnikov, was sold for €6,000.
Another interesting lot was the complete set of awards of Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Ivanovich Alin. The set consisted of 12 awards, including the Hero Star, award booklets, a photograph, and a presentation watch. It included:
- Hero Star
- Order of Lenin
- Three Orders of the Red Banner
This comprehensive lot was sold for €12,000.
Auction Results for Top Soviet Orders
| Award | Type and number | Period | Sale price (euro) |
| Order of Lenin | Type 3, screw-back (No. 8991) | 1936-1943 | 5,500 |
| Order of Lenin | Type 4, suspension (5-digit number) | Late period | 2,200 |
| Order of the Badge of Honour | Type 1, screw-back (No. 82) | 1935 | 7,000 |
| Order of the Red Banner | Type 1 (No. 12042) | 1930 | 1,000 |
The auction featured various types of top Soviet awards, demonstrating the difference in value depending on the period and rarity.
Of particular interest is the early Order of the Badge of Honour with number 82, which reached a high price of €7,000, underscoring the value of early screw-back examples.
Commanders' and Other Military Orders
Commanders' orders from the Great Patriotic War were also offered at the auction. The Order of Suvorov, Second Class, second type, established in 1942, with number 593, was sold for €9,500.
The Order of Alexander Nevsky, a later screw-back type with number 13145, went for €340. Also presented was the Order of the Patriotic War, first type (1942), Second Class, with number 14710. Its sale price was €800.
Lot of USSR Orders and Medals
Group lots of interest to novice collectors were also offered at the auction. One such lot included nine examples of the Order of the Red Star and was sold for €600.
The following awards were also presented:
- A set consisting of the Order of the Mother Heroine and the Orders of Maternal Glory, 1st and 3rd Class, was sold for €240.
- The Order of the October Revolution (No. 55345) went for €240.
- The Order of Friendship of Peoples (No. 50515) was sold for €300.
- The Medal 'For Labour Valour', first type from 1938 (No. 2711), was sold for €240.
Order 'For Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR'
The only post-war combined arms order of the USSR, established in 1974, was also presented at the auction. In total, about 70,000 awards of the 3rd Class were made. This order, known among collectors as the 'crab,' was issued until 1991.
Two 3rd Class examples were sold at the auction:
- An order with a six-digit number went for €340.
- An order with a five-digit number (No. 25716) was sold for €380.
The 1st Class of this order is rarer – only 13 awards were ever made, making it rarer than the famous Order of Victory, of which 20 were awarded.
