Soviet Russian WW2 VALOR MEDAL Bravery TYPE 1 #251464 Mid-1943 +Brass Suspension

Description

Soviet Medal for Valor (aka Medal for Bravery), #251464, TYPE 1 WW2 issue on a post-war, late 1940s suspension device in brass.
This is GUARANTEED ORIGINAL wartime Soviet military medal, not a copy or a recent reissue!
Made in SOLID SILVER, this is a massive piece measuring 37.3 mm wide and weighing 26.3 grams not including the suspension. There is a stamped serial number on the reverse which identifies the recipient (even now, this medal may be researched by its number through the military archives in Russia!) Judging by the serial number, it was probably bestowed in mid-1943, most likely in May - July. As such, it has a good chance of having been awarded for the Great Battle of Kursk. It may also be an award for the Third Battle of Kharkov, offensive in the Kuban (on the German Blue Line) or the struggle around the Demyansk Bulge.
Note that all Valor Medals awarded after 1947-48 were unnumbered. Not only this piece is a numbered example that is definitely from WW2 era, but also it has a very low number. Its serial number in fact guarantees that this medal was originally on a Type 1 rectangular suspension. During the summer of 1943, Soviet medal suspensions was re-designed to the more familiar five-sided type (Type 2). Although some of the Type 1 Valor medals remaining in stock at that point were still issued with their original early model suspensions, most of the medals issued in the last two years of the war were on five-sided suspension. Vast majority of Soviet Medals for Valor were bestowed in that last two years, so the earlier issues are quite scarce by comparison. Needless to say, it was much harder for a Soviet soldier to earn the medal in the first two years of the Patriotic War!
Like many other Type 1 medals, this example was converted to a 5-sided suspension of late 1940s vintage to comply with the post-war regulations.
The medal is in GOOD condition, especially for a relatively early WW2 award.  It shows moderate wear to the raised points, but the details of the tank and airplanes are still well defined. This is just a single, barely noticeable bump to the edge at approx. 3 o’clock, but no dents, nicks or significant scratches. The fragile lacquer in the letters is missing, as is often the case (especially for the Valor Medals of the early vintage). There is attractive, even patina to silver on both the obverse and reverse.
The medal comes on a brass suspension device of late 1940s type. The ribbon is old, possibly of the period, but it is very nicely preserved and clean.
This EARLY EXAMPLE of a Soviet WW2 Bravery award has great research potential!
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