The Gold Chervonets
The birth of the star
In 2004 there is the 70th anniversary of signing the edict about establishment of the great state reward
Among the production of Moscow Mint there is a special make, while manufacturing it people touch upon a feat.
The matter is about the star of Hero of Russia.
The edict about establishing the rank of Hero of the Soviet Union was signed 70 years ago.
The USSR has not existed for long time, but the pride for the countrymen, having this proud rank is left.
Perhaps, so, while changing the coat of arms and symbols of the state, there was a decision to leave Star of Hero almost invariably.
Modest and laconic
Before coming into the shop, where stars of Hero are created, the main technologist of Moscow Mint Andrey Ivantsov tells about what is impossible to see for once: about 10 birthdays of the medal "Gold star".
Today Star of Hero of Russia differs from Star of Hero of the Soviet Union by just two signs: a note on the back side of "Hero of Russia" and a ribbon-three-coloured, keeping the colours of Russian flag (instead of soviet, red).
There were no changes in the technology, according to which the medal is made.
- All state rewards,- Andrey Ivantsov tells,- are made due to the order of the President"s Directorate for state rewards. During the period of the Soviet Union the state order for producing Star of Hero foresaw more quantity of rewards than now. Nowadays several tens of medals a year are produced. An order goes to Moscow Mint beforehand and prepared medal are kept till their appropriations in the order store of the President"s Directorate for state rewards.
On the background of other highest rewards Star of Hero may be called modest and laconic. On the condition that there is equipment, tools and materials at the Mint, the process of creating the star lasts about 10 days. Firstly, gold alloy of necessary style is smelted, then the alloy is rolled and blanks are made from the rolled metal, then they are minted, polished, covered by a layer of pure gold, collected and completed by other operations.
Moldings are usually worn
A reward, made from gold, is very expensive itself. So, not to have additional risk, holders of orders, as a rule, wear moldings of the rewards. Moldings are also made at Moscow Mint with the permission of the President"s Directorate for state rewards.
Real orders have never been bought to the Mint to restore- just moldings. Andrey Ivantsov remembers that most of all they had to restore worn stocks of moldings, scratches on cupric-zinc alloy, from which they are made, chips of lake surface.
Cupric-zinc alloy under lake looks like gold very much. But experienced specialists of Moscow Mint can always differentiate molding from an original. Besides, on the back side of this make there is an obligatory note "molding".
Leonid Breznev was likely the only person to be able to wear original rewards.
The principle engineer of Moscow Mint tells that even today veterans of the production remember the way they were making orders for him. It was uncomfortable to all four stars of Hero of the Soviet Union to the jacket and so a special big stock, where four stars could be pinned together, was made for Breznev. Double heroes of the Soviet Union ordered the same combined stocks as well.
The work of his hands
In the shop where stamping a future reward is taking place, we got acquainted with Michail Grigor"evich Chertov, a person, whose hands turn a flat metal star, looking like October one, into a ready star.
Michail Grigor"evich has been working for the Mint for 40 years. And the general length of service of his family dynasty is more than 70 years. He remembers how, after coming to Moscow Mint as a student, he was learning the principles of the skill: he was watching experienced workers do this or that make, but when his older colleagues went for lunch breaks, he himself came up to the machine.
- Sometimes I spoilt something and was punished afterwards, of course. But sometimes I succeeded,- Michail Grigor"evich tells.
Chertov didn"t count how many state rewards were produced by his press. But he thinks that, being placed one by one, they can circle the meridian of Earth.
Michail Griror"evich likes his work.
- Sometimes I watch the president awarding people and feel joy, because there is a small part of my work in it too.
When while having rest he happened to meet holders of orders, the worker always recognized his work. Though there is no doubt at all- in Russian Federation just he, Michail Chertov, mints Stars of Hero.
With usual movement the master is wiping the instrument- a stamp. He takes a blank, brings it up to the blown off- all dusts are blown off the blanks in fact, because while minting every part of dust can cause damage, places in a special nest and presses a button. The press cries out twice heavily, and Michail Grigor"evich takes the star out.
- Our girls-controllers are very severe,- he says- So pleasant, when at the end of the duty they accept everything you have done. But I remember another one too. These rewards are given for feats. Many people are awarded posthumously. And they can"t be done badly.
We are leaving the shop, but the machine of time keeps crying out rhythmically- the press, minting rewards for Heroes of Russia from future. The feats have not been done yet, but rewards for heroes are being minted and are waiting for their time in the order store.
Yelena Kiseleva
