Table Medal Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Kazan Gunpowder Factory, by Leningrad Mint, artist signed, 1988.
In solid bronze measuring approx. 59.8 mm wide and 6.6 mm thick between the highest points on either side. Weighs 117 gram. High relief artwork featuring the factory's trademark arch on the obverse rising over the three orders awarded to the factory during the Soviet period, and the official Soviet-era name of the factory, "V.I. Lenin Scientific & Manufacturing Enterprise." The medallist's name, A. Baklanov, is stamped on the reverse under the river bank's line. The mark of the Leningrad Mint is also under this line, on the right side.
The name of the factory as it is stated on th
In solid bronze measuring approx. 59.8 mm wide and 6.6 mm thick between the highest points on either side. Weighs 117 gram. High relief artwork featuring the factory's trademark arch on the obverse rising over the three orders awarded to the factory during the Soviet period, and the official Soviet-era name of the factory, "V.I. Lenin Scientific & Manufacturing Enterprise." The medallist's name, A. Baklanov, is stamped on the reverse under the river bank's line. The mark of the Leningrad Mint is also under this line, on the right side.
The name of the factory as it is stated on the medal is a perfect demonstration of Soviet obsession with secrecy when it came to things military. Taking it to the absurd level, this medal is cited in the medal name index in the catalog /Commemorative [Table] Medal of the Soviet Period, 1919 - 1991, by A. Shkurko and A. Salykov, #1791 (p.397)/, but the image of the medal is absent, and so is the number of the pieces struck.
So, in the end, we have some enterprise bearing Lenin's name and awarded with three Soviet high orders. And if we flip to the reverse, we can surmise that it is located in an ancient Russian city on the banks of a big river.
No brows are raised to see Lenin's name right next to the year 1788 when the "scientific and manufacturing enterprise" of his name was founded.
In the meantime, the Kazan Gunpowder Factory has a long and illustrious history. Founded by personal order of Empress Catherine the Great, it stayed on the forefront of developing and manufacturing high explosives throughout all of its more than two centuries of existence, and continues to prosper, now openly and officially as the Kazan State Gunpowder Factory.
Please note that the penny in our photo is for size reference.
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