In silver; medallion is 37.4 mm wide; weighs 27.9 g not including the suspension and connecting link. This is the so- called "Thick" sub-variation measuring approx. 2.7-2.8 mm thick at the edge. The suspension measures 24.8 mm wide at the top, approx. 17.3 mm tall not including the ribbon and the projection for the connecting link. Overall weight of the medal with the suspension and screw plate is 42.6 g.

In very fine condition. The lacquer in the letters is mostly worn out, as is usually the case, but traces of it are still clearly visible in most of the letters. The medallion

In silver; medallion is 37.4 mm wide; weighs 27.9 g not including the suspension and connecting link. This is the so- called "Thick" sub-variation measuring approx. 2.7-2.8 mm thick at the edge. The suspension measures 24.8 mm wide at the top, approx. 17.3 mm tall not including the ribbon and the projection for the connecting link. Overall weight of the medal with the suspension and screw plate is 42.6 g.

In very fine condition. The lacquer in the letters is mostly worn out, as is usually the case, but traces of it are still clearly visible in most of the letters. The medallion shows almost no other visible wear; the raised details are perfect and exceptionally crisp. The medal comes on an original suspension device complete with all of its parts including the screw post, back plate, hexagon nut, and mint marked screw plate. The screw post is full length, approx. 9 mm measured from the rectangular back plate. The ribbon is old and although not original to the medal, clearly of the period; note that its ends have been secured on the back with thread, probably by the recipient himself. The ribbon shows only a minimal amount of soiling, no significant wear. The connecting link appears to be original; its ends are still joined with solder. Overall, a very attractive example of the iconic Soviet WW2 bravery award.

Nikolai Ternov was born in 1912 in a small village in Crimea. In 1940, he joined the Communist Party and in 1942, while living in October 1942, while living in the Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, enlisted in the Red Army. In the summer of 1943, he already had the rank of junior sergeant and commanded a PTR antitank rifle squad of the 504th Rifle Regiment, 280th Rifle Division, 60th Army, Central Front. In this capacity, he took part in the Battle of Kursk on the northern flank of the Kursk salient. In the first two days of the battle, Ternov showed outstanding bravery while repelling counterattacks of a numerically superior enemy in Trosnyanskiy District, Kursk Region. By his personal example he encouraged the other soldiers of his squad "instilling confidence in victory" under heavy enemy fire. From 5-6 July, Ternov personally eliminated four German soldiers. The medal for Valor bestowed upon him on 11 July by the general order of the Commander of the Artillery, 280th Rifle Division, remained Ternov's only decoration of the Patriotic War. He was seriously wounded later in the war and as of 1947, was listed as an invalid in the award record card; interestingly, the same document shows that Ternov's rank upon his discharge from the military was a corporal, possibly indicating a demotion for some unspecified transgression.

Research Materials: Xerox copy of the award record card and award decree containing the citation (note that there is a typo in the award card stating that the medal was bestowed on 11 June 1943, whereas it is clear from the date and content of the citation that the correct date is in fact 11 July). Information about the 280th Rifle Division is available in Volume X Red Swarm of Charles Sharp's "Soviet Order of Battle" series.
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