Silver gilt, enamel; measures 51.6 mm in height (incl. eyelet), 32.5 mm in width; weighs 32.2 g not including the suspension and connecting link. Features an elongated upper part of the letter "P" in the "CCCP" (as opposed to the more rounded "P" in the second sub-variation of the order).

In excellent, near mint condition. The enamel is completely flawless; in particular, there is no flaking or imperfection at the upper tip of the star observed on the majority of the Orders of Honor or late-issue Badges of Honor. The raised artwork is likewise essentially pristine, having only a couple of microscopic contact marks that are invisible to the naked eye and not immediately obvious even under a 10x loupe.

Comes on original two-layer suspension device with immaculately clean old ribbon. The connecting link appears to be original; its ends are still joined with solder in a seamless manner characteristic of the Soviet Mint.

Based on the limited information provided in Latysh's book, Nikolay Balashov was born in 1944. In August 1989, at the time when he was awarded with the Order of Honor, he lived in Leningrad and was an employee of the Ministry of Fertilizers of the USSR. Although no further details of his life and career have been found as of now, they are almost certain to become available eventually via Internet sources.

The Order of Honor was established in 1988 as a replacement for the Order of Badge of Honor. It was discontinued just three years later with the collapse of the Soviet Union. During its brief existence, only some 10,000 were awarded according to the most up-to-date estimates, a very small number by Soviet standards.