Silver, enamels; 26.4 x 22.0 mm; weighs 9.8 g not including the wing nut. Riveted three-piece construction: the hammer and sickle emblem as well as the wreath with the inscription РСФСР ("RSFSR", i.e. Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic) are separate superimposed parts attached by rivets to the enameled red shield. Note that the emblem is in characteristically early style: the positions of the hammer and sickle are reversed compared with the post-Civil War version; the shape of both tools also differs drastically from the "standard" model. The reverse shows imperial-style silver hallmark "84" with "Kokoshnik" and a Greek character Alpha, designation of the Petrograd (St. Petersburg) assay inspection; there are also a smaller round assayer's Kokoshnik hallmark as well as the hammer & sickle hallmark. Despite its small "lapel" size, the badge exhibits the characteristic high quality of the imperial era.

Excellent condition. The enamel is essentially perfect, retaining all of its original luster and having only microscopic contact marks invisible to the naked eye. The details of the emblem and wreath are nicely preserved and crisp; there is only a tiny amount of wear to the high points of the letters "RSFSR" that remain fully legible. The rivets are intact and perfectly tight. There is a very attractive patina to silver throughout; note the lighter area around the screw post that was covered by the wing nut and had less exposure to oxidants in the air. The screw post is of full length, approx. 8.5 mm. The badge includes its original silver wing nut showing the round "Kokoshnik" hallmark matching that on the reverse of the badge as well as the maker-mark "Eduard", the name of the jewelry firm before it was "nationalized" (i.e. stolen) by the new socialist government and received the new name of 1st State Jewelry Factory.

The badge was "privately" commissioned (most likely, using the funds confiscated from the bourgeoisie) and was probably issued exclusively to the senior police officers in the city of Petrograd. (Some Russian collectors believe that it could also be worn by senior military prosecutors, but no documentary evidence of that has been found to date.) It was apparently produced for only a year or two, as all known examples bear the early Eduard hallmarks; judging by photographic evidence, it was worn as a sign of "special status" by some of the owners until at least the late 20s. Quality-wise, this piece is in sharp contrast with the standard regulation Police officer and enlisted personnel badges introduced in 1919; the latter were of much larger size, cheaply made (typically in silvered or gilded brass and low- quality enamel), and had the later version of the hammer & sickle emblem. The "deluxe" silver badge was made at the height of the Red Terror and was undoubtedly worn by one of its chief perpetrators!

/I. Sysolyatin, Soviet Badges, Volume 2: Law Enforcement Agencies , p. 59, fig. 2.53/

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