In heavy non-magnetic white metal (or possibly brass with heavy coating of nickel or chrome), a massive piece measuring 92 mm wide. The obverse features a bas-relief portrait of Lenin in very high 3-d profile and inscription "100th Anniversary of Birth of V.I. Lenin, 1870- 1970". The name of the medallier, L. Vasev, is engraved on the undercut of the shoulder. The reverse has a very detailed raised depiction of a Mosin-Nagant rifle with the dedication "To the great proletarian leader Comrade Lenin for good memory of the capture of Izhevsk from the 2nd Iron Division and Revoluti

In heavy non-magnetic white metal (or possibly brass with heavy coating of nickel or chrome), a massive piece measuring 92 mm wide. The obverse features a bas-relief portrait of Lenin in very high 3-d profile and inscription "100th Anniversary of Birth of V.I. Lenin, 1870- 1970". The name of the medallier, L. Vasev, is engraved on the undercut of the shoulder. The reverse has a very detailed raised depiction of a Mosin-Nagant rifle with the dedication "To the great proletarian leader Comrade Lenin for good memory of the capture of Izhevsk from the 2nd Iron Division and Revolutionary Civil Committee of Izhevsk. 7 November 1918". The inscription in larger font along the edge reads: "Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant. UASSR [Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Republic]."

The Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant which manufactured and issued the medal is commonly known as the Izhevsk Arsenal. It is located in the capital city of Udmurtia, an autonomous republic within the vast Ural region of eastern Russia. The factory is famous for manufacturing many weapons, including the venerable Mosin-Nagant rifles and bayonets, as well as AK-47 assault rifles (Izhevsk is also the home of another important Soviet firearms maker, Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, which among other things, produced Makarov pistols and IZH hunting rifles). The city and its weapon producing facilities were a major prize in the Russian Civil War, and its re-capture by the Bolsheviks in November 1918 greatly affected the course of the war, at least in the Russian east. It is worth mentioning that the Bolshevik control of the city had been previously overthrown in a workers rebellion precipitated by the unprecedented Red Terror. The city and surrounding areas were then practically depopulated during its recapture in late 1918 on Trotsky's specific genocidal orders (with Lenin's full blessing of course). Almost all of the surviving population fled and most men capable of carrying arms then joined the anti-Bolshevik White forces of Admiral Kolchak in Siberia.

The medal is in very fine condition. It has some minor dings and a couple of relatively small nicks to the raised edge on the reverse, but the details of the bas-relief portrait, lettering, and rifle are very nicely preserved and perfectly crisp. The imperfections along the edge on the reverse in the 12 to 4 o'clock segment are factory flaws typical for a very large medal produced without the specialized machinery used by the Mint. Despite these minor flaws, this medal is a very impressive and interesting historical piece.

Please note, penny in our photo is for size reference.
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