Brass, enamels; 46.3 x 36.2 mm. Early, scarce variation of the badge, manufactured by the Moscow Artists Cooperative (MTKh). Features elongated shield design, with the spade-shaped lower portion. The center medallion has a pronounced dome. The top ornament consists of seven scrolls (as opposed to the similar MTKh badge with five scrolls and wavy upper edge of the ornament). There is a vertical groove pattern under enamel.

In excellent condition, extraordinary for any wartime "Proficiency" badge and especially for a version this scarce. The enamel is essentially pristine, having o

Brass, enamels; 46.3 x 36.2 mm. Early, scarce variation of the badge, manufactured by the Moscow Artists Cooperative (MTKh). Features elongated shield design, with the spade-shaped lower portion. The center medallion has a pronounced dome. The top ornament consists of seven scrolls (as opposed to the similar MTKh badge with five scrolls and wavy upper edge of the ornament). There is a vertical groove pattern under enamel.

In excellent condition, extraordinary for any wartime "Proficiency" badge and especially for a version this scarce. The enamel is essentially pristine, having only a few microscopic contact marks that are completely invisible to the naked eye and not easy to find even with a 10x loupe. The enamel retains a magnificent luster throughout. The details of the artwork are perfect and exceptionally crisp; the gold finish to the wreath and the dark finish around the shield are almost completely intact; the silver finish on the reverse is perfect. The screw post is full length, nearly 10 mm long, and comes with the original maker marked screw plate. To reiterate, this piece is in truly superb condition, definitely one of the best - and possibly the best - of this version we have ever seen.

/B. Airapetyan, Breast Badges of the Red Army, 1941-1945, p. 103, fig. 2. Note that there is an error in the book: description of this badge accompanies fig. 1 on p. 102, but the correct image is fig. 2 on page 103/
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