In silver and enamels, Measures 28.8 mm in height including flagpole finial, 24.1 mm in width; weighs 7.5 g without the screw plate. Features solid back construction and a stamped mint mark "MD" to the reverse. The award is of superb quality typical of badges produced by the Soviet Mint prior to the Patriotic War.

In outstanding, excellent condition - extremely uncommon for the WW2 Naval Excellence badge, especially of the early type. The enamel is perfect, completely free of any wear visible to the naked eye and having only a few microscopic contact marks that are not easily noticeable even under a 10x magnification. It exhibits beautiful luster throughout. The details of the wreath and warship are perfect and crisp. The original gold plating on the wreath is still clearly visible. There is beautiful even patina to silver on the reverse. The screw post is of full length, well over 11 mm, and includes original screw plate in silver-plated brass with "Mondvor" logo. Overall, the badge is in truly superb condition - in our opinion, literally impossible to upgrade.

Interestingly, V. Borisov states in his book on Soviet military badges that the Type 1 Excellence in the Navy manufactured by the Leningrad Mint were in silver-plated brass. However, based on our observations of the wear to the early badges (including this example), they were in fact in solid silver. This is confirmed by the "MD" mintmark exclusive to the silver issues of other contemporary badges such as the pre-war Shock-Worker awards.

/See Borisov, Badges of the Soviet Armed Force s, fig. 63; also, Avers 8 p. 426, fig. 2017/.

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