The order is in 23 K gold, platinum, and enamels. Measures 39.0 mm in height (from the bottom of the wreath to highest point of the banner, not including the flagpole finial), 38.4 mm in width; weighs 36.0 g without the screw plate. Features two-word word "Monetnyi Dvor" mint mark and single-tier screw post base. The number is stamped in standard manner above the screw post.

In very fine condition. The enamel is nicely preserved overall, much better than on the vast majority of the surviving examples of the screw back type. There are no repairs or significant chips, only a single surface flake at the top edge of the banner to the right of the flagpole finial, not very noticeable or detractive. The enamel on the banner is practically pristine otherwise retaining beautiful luster and having no other wear beside some microscopic contact marks invisible without magnification. The enamel on the red band around the medallion has a couple of flakes not penetrating to gold, nearly unnoticeable to the naked eye. The red enamel on the star and on the hammer & sickle emblem, as well as the grey enamel on the background of the center medallion are literally perfect.

The platinum bas-relief of Lenin shows no wear detectable even under a 10x loupe; its details are perfect and exceptionally crisp. The golden wreath is likewise completely free of noticeable dings or scratches. The order has not been converted to suspension and retains its original full-size screw post measuring approx.10 mm long from the screw post base. An original period screw plate in silver is included. Overall, an extremely attractive and unusually well-preserved piece!

The Order Booklet #095502 was issued on 3 March 1943. The Order of Lenin was the original entry, filled-out in the same handwriting and ink as the date of issue of the document. Much later, in approximately early- to mid-1960s, an entry for an Order of Badge of Honor #378531 was added to the document. The date for the start of special privileges is 1 February 1943 which corresponds with the January 1943 award decree for the Order of Lenin.

The document is in very good to excellent condition. The binding is tight. The cover shows little wear aside from a few minor spots; the impressed gold state emblem and inscription are perfectly preserved and bright. The internal pages have a few faint stains that do not affect the text, otherwise perfect and crisp.

According to the information found in the Russian archives published on the website Pamyat-naroda.ru, the recipient of the order, Aleksey Sokolov (Алексей Васильевич Соколов) worked as a foreman at one of the tank-building factories. On 20 January 1943, he became one of the 45 best managers, foremen and regular employees of Soviet tank industry awarded with the Order of Lenin (on the same day, hundreds of other workers of the industry were decorated with lesser awards by the same decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR).

Note the timing of the decree: less than two weeks before the conclusion of the Battle of Stalingrad in which Soviet tanks had played a key role - and suffered terrible attrition. By early 1943, the confident Soviet leadership had already started planning future offensives where swarms of T-34s, KV-1s and later, IS-2s would be used as a battering ram. Almost needless to say, tanks were central in the Soviet WW2 (and later, Cold War) military doctrine. Starting from the second year of the war, the incredibly high Soviet rate of production of armored vehicles far outstripped the German ability to field enough panzers - however superior in quality - and thus put the Wehrmacht permanently on the defensive. It is therefore understandable why some of the best Soviet tank builders were decorated with an Order of Lenin at the time when this award was very rarely bestowed even for heroism in combat, let alone labor achievements.

Research Materials: photocopy of the award decree.