Vladimir Lenin in silver.

This are very special pins. They were manufactured (except S10) by the factory "Russian Semi-precious stones" in Leningrad between 1967 and 1970. Usually, this factory produces jewelry, but due to the political significance of the 100th aniversary of Lenin's birthday they were handed the order to make a set of commemorative pins. Communist Party leaders were planning this even many years in advance. There were so many things riding on it: renaming of factories and state farms, awarding of people, cities, plants with either Lenin's commemorative medals of Order of Lenin, concerts, demonstrations, special Party meetings. That was the biggest happening of such a kind in the history of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of the USSR . That was a peak of Lenin's cult.

These particular pins (except S10 which comes from different source and I am not sure if it is made of real silver or immitation) are made from real silver. It has 875 'probe' which means 87.5% of it is pure silver. I am not sure how many carat it is - probably 18. There were not too many of these pins manufactured. Every one is accompanied by a special receipt. The first line which reads like "3HA4EK" what is 'Pin' in Russian gives you a pin unique number. On pin S8 the number is handwritten. These pins were not sold in retail outlets and were given as a special gifts to Party members and special guests.

Second line - "APTNKYL" can be loosely translated as 'Article' gives a number which reference that particular design. Third line says 'Silver 875°' which means the silver content in the material. Fourth line - "MPTY 25-33-01-67" means state standard ##. The last line indicates price in roubles. S1, for example, costed 1.70 roubles which was about 8 times more than the common pin would cost at that time.


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Lenin with us.
(#S1)  $25.00 

Hammer & Sickle were impersonating a worker
and a farmhand girl as the symbols of "truly" proletariat state.

(#S2)  $25.00 

Lenin lived, live, will live.
(#S3)  $25.00 

The red color of the flag represents the blood spilled to create the first socialist classless society in the world.
(#S4)  $25.00 

Vladimir Iljich Lenin
(#S5)  $25.00 

1870-1970.
(#S6)  $25.00 

In the end of summer 1917 Lenin was hiding from police.He lived about 30 km from the city near the village called Razliv where he played a role of a grass cutter. He lived in a tipi made of dried grass. There he was waiting for the convenient moment to start the uprising in St.Petersburg which eventually turned into the revolution.
(#S7)  $25.00 

Smolny palace in St.Petersburg was a headquarter for October Socialist revolution. It was guarded by armed militia, soldiers and sailors who deserted from the regular army and joined bolsheviks.
(#S8)  $25.00 

1870-1970.
(#S9)  $25.00 

On this pin you can see the determination in Lenin's face. Also his facial features reveal that he comes from multi-ethnic environment. In his genes you can find tatar and kazah blood lines as they were living on Volga river in the area with a diverse polulation.
(#S10)  $25.00 
Other 100th aniversary of Lenin's birthday commemorative pin sets: Lenin in brass, Lenin in aluminum, Lenin in copper.  
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