Military/Army Medals

[goldanalog]

I am wondering what the content is of this Soviet army medal that I found. I looks to be completely gold covered except for some enamel work. It's not magnetic but it doesn't bend very easily for its thickness, which seems to be a little thinner than a U.S. dime. There was an area where the enamel came off and it looks like it was plated completely first (or its solid gold, which I doubt).

It is the one with the blue shield and a "1":

https://www.emedals.com/russia-soviet-union-a-lot-of-five-red-army-badges

Just looking for more knowledge in general about them. Also, gold military buttons.

 

[g_axelsson]

Probably some die-casted zinc alloy.

If it was solid gold you should easily feel it's weight in your hand. Just compare with a coin of similar size.

Göran

 

[anarxi]

Just looking for more knowledge in general about them.

either aluminum or tombac....

http://www.sammler.ru/index.php?showtopic=72421

 

[justinhcase]

There are two things I find of interest.
The firsts that the former Soviet Socialist Republics though having large and productive mines have used noble metals quite liberally in some unorthodox things as their internal markets where chaotic to say the least. More who is in favour than what is important.
We have all read the legend about the stove-pipes made form solid platinum.
The second is that even in something as organised and uniform as the military there is a tremendous scope of kit in its build and quality.
Amongst UK forces will find on old military uniforms which look the same, but they are gold-filled, gold-plated, or some made of karat gold.
Lower ranks or people less well-connected would get the gilded brass, next up gilded silver followed by the gold.
They all needed to look near identical as that is kind of the point of a military uniform.
The only reliable way to tell if they have not been marked properly is to run a recovery.
Sadly if they can not be connected to a particular individual the collector value is not above the metal content.

 

[zubr]

I wore such things for two years - there is no gold

 

[justinhcase]

I wore such things for two years - there is no gold

The IDF does not have much of a problem with corrosion as its main operational aria is extremely arid.
I would expect the use of noble metals to be retarded as it would be unnecessary in most places.
They do like it in their electronics.
Also, I have seen a lot of low grade gold-plated dentistry coming out of Israel, I dread to think where they are being dug up.
But it shows a general tendency to use stainless steel instead of gold in the geographic aria.
Forces who operate in wet and inclement arias would have to use more noble metals or replace their kit every year.
Funny taking about the Israeli defence force, I normally talk about the Irish Defence force. People forget there are two IDF's

 

[zubr]

I wore Soviet badges (as in the photo)