History

This Order of the Badge of Honor was established on November 25, 1935, however the statutes were established in March 28, 1980. The reason for this is unknown. This Order was conferred in recognition of extraordinary accomplishments in the fields of scientific research, production, governmental, cultural, athletic and other pursuits, and for showing civilian courage. It was awarded to citizens of the USSR, enterprises, establishments, organizations, regions, cities, and other populations. It could also be awarded to foreigners, foreign establishments, and foreign organizations.

On December 28, 1988, the Order of the Badge of Honor was replaced by the newly established Order of Honor. The only difference between the two orders is that the Russian words Znak Pocheta at the bottom of the Order of the Badge of Honor were replaced by a hammer and sickle and leaves on the Order of the Honor.

Prior to the Second World War, 14,500 of these orders were awarded. During the war, 66,000 were given during the war and over 1,500,000 were awarded by 1988. The Badge of Honour has four Types.

Type IV, "concave reverse" was awarded from the 1950s until December 28, 1988. The decoration was made as one solid piece instead of being soldered or riveted together. The obverse does not change, but the reverse presents a large depressed area and the three rivets are gone. The Monetny Dvor mark is raised, stacked and is a part of the order. The Monetny is curved and the Dvor is in a straight line underneath. The serial number is present at the bottom of the depression. Some of the later pieces have a small thin straight line at the bottom where the serial number should be engraved. Early serial numbers were hand engraved and later versions were engraved with a rotating tool. There are two variations.

On Variation I the "USSR" inscription on the obverse made by separate pieces and then soldered onto the obverse. This variation can have both hand engraved and machine engraved serial numbers. Later pieces have the raised line. The serial numbers range from roughly 170,000 to 845,000.

Variation II has the "USSR" inscription on the obverse as a part of the decoration. They all have machine engraved serial numbers. The serial numbers range from roughly 858,000 to 1,540,000.

The obverse Russian inscription translates to: "Workers of the World, Unite!" and "Badge of Honour". The obverse features the Russian letters for the USSR.