Soviet Russian WW2 Medal for Capture of Berlin VAR.1 + ORIGINAL BRASS SUSPENSION

Description

Soviet WW2 Medal for the Capture of Berlin.
This is a GUARANTEED ORIGINAL medal made in the late 1940s at the Soviet Mint and officially issued by the Soviet authorities (usually by a military unit of the recipient or by his military commissariat where he lived after the discharge from the military). This is NOT one of the replicas that have flooded the market in recent years!
The medallion is in brass, measures 32.1 mm wide; weighs 17.4 g not including the suspension and connecting link. The front has raised inscription “For the Capture of Berlin”. The reverse has the date “2 May 1945” - the day when the last strongholds inside the German capital including the burned-out shell of the Reichstag building fell to the Russian onslaught. This version of the medal is Variation 1 characterized by the eyelet which is as a separate part soldered to the medallion (as opposed to the later version of the medal that has an eyelet struck together with the medal as one piece).
This medal is in VERY GOOD condition, especially for a WW2 era Soviet award. It is completely free of bumps to the edge, significant dings, or visible scratches.  There is only a very mild wear to the high points of the lettering and artwork, while the raised details are overall well-preserved and crisp. There is a very attractive dark patina to the brass throughout and a minimal amount of darker tarnish, mostly around the lettering and on the reverse, that adds character. The medal comes on an ORIGINAL suspension device, a late-1940s model in brass. The ribbon shows age but is perfectly sound and clean. The connecting link between the medal and suspension appears to be of the period and is probably original to the medal.
The importance of the battle for Berlin cannot be overstated. This battle which directly involved forces of two Soviet Fronts (army groups) was by no means easy: Hitler remained in Berlin for the last-ditch defense, and many of the German units fanatically fought to the last man. When it was all over, much of the city was reduced to rubble. With its Fuhrer dead, industries ruined, and the military at the end of its rope, the Third Reich surrendered in just a few days.
This example is an opportunity to acquire an ORIGINAL VARIATION 1 Berlin Medal in nice condition!
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