Description:
Diameter - 32 mm
Composition - 925 silver
Weight - 16 g
Year of manufacture - 1945
For the first time in the USSR, gold and silver school medals were introduced starting from the 1944-1945 academic year by the resolution of the USSR Council of People's Commissars of June 21, 1944 "On measures to improve the quality of education at school". At the same time, it was decided to hold final exams for students in schools.
On May 30, 1945, the "Regulations on Gold and Silver Medals "FOR Excellent Achievements and Exemplary Behavior" came into force, which approved samples and descriptions of the medals themselves, as well as samples of certificate forms for them.
According to this provision, the gold medal was awarded to persons who showed outstanding achievements during the matriculation exams, who have exemplary behavior and a grade of "5" in all the main subjects of secondary school.
If a student showed similar knowledge when passing exams, had exemplary behavior, but a grade of "4" in no more than three of the other main subjects, then he could be awarded a silver medal. When awarding medals, grades in singing, drawing, drawing and military physical training were not taken into account.
The presentation of the student to the medal was made out by the pedagogical council of the school, but the decision to award the medal was made by the regional and regional departments of public education.
Those awarded with gold and silver medals had the right to enter higher educational institutions of the USSR without entrance exams, while those awarded with a gold medal were first accepted, and then with a silver one.
The gold and silver medals "FOR EXCELLENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR" awarded to high school graduates in the period from 1945 to 1954 had the same diameter – 32 mm, and thickness – 1.5 mm and 2 mm, respectively.
Medals were made of gold alloy of the 583rd test and silver alloy of the 925 test, respectively. The gold medal weighed almost 11 grams and was covered with a layer of pure gold 3 microns thick. The silver award was slightly heavier and weighed 15-16 grams.
On the front side of the medals, against the background of diverging rays, an open book is depicted, bordered from below and to the right by a laurel branch. In the upper part, in the center of the diverging rays, there is a convex five-pointed star. Around the circle – the inscription: "FOR EXCELLENT SUCCESS AND EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR", framed by a rim of dots and a side. On the reverse side of the medals is an image of the coat of arms and an abbreviated inscription of the name of the corresponding Union republic.
The Moscow Mint issued gold and silver medals for each of the Union republics that existed at that time. The inscription "For excellent achievements and exemplary behavior" was performed in the national languages of the Union republics.
The certificate of maturity and the gold medal "number 1" in the RSFSR were awarded to a student of one of the oldest schools in Moscow (No. 110, founded on November 27, 1795), the winner of the All-Moscow Mathematical Olympiad Evgeny Shchukin. After graduating from high school, Evgeny continued his studies at the Physics Faculty of Moscow State University, from which he graduated with a red diploma. In 1967, Evgeny Dmitrievich Shchukin became a professor at Moscow State University. In 1984, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering of the USA, and in 1988 – to the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.
Medals of the 1953 model
Since December 14, 1953, due to changes in the technological conditions for the manufacture of medals, there have been some changes in their parameters, first of all, the composition of the metal alloys used has changed.
The gold medal was made of a 375-th grade alloy and additionally coated with more high-grade gold by electroplating. The thickness of this layer was 3 microns, only 6 grams of gold remained in the medal.
The silver medal was still minted from 925 sterling silver. With the preserved diameter of 32 mm, the thickness of the medals increased to 3 mm. The design of the medals remained the same.
Medals of the 1960 model
Since 1959, in connection with the transition to a new school system, gold and silver medals have been awarded not only to graduates of secondary ten-year schools, but also to graduates of working youth schools. This procedure existed until December 18, 1968 and was canceled due to the reorganization of the schools of working youth into secondary general education labor polytechnic schools with industrial training and evening secondary schools.
Since March 15, 1960, new models of medals have been introduced. The drawings on the obverse and reverse sides of the gold and silver medals of the 1960 model were the same as on the medals of the 1945 model, and the clarifying words "in teaching and work" appeared in the inscription and it became: "FOR EXCELLENT ACHIEVEMENTS IN TEACHING, WORK AND FOR EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR."
Both medals increased in diameter to 40 mm and began to be made of non–precious metals: gold – from tompak L90, and silver - from nickel silver MN19. The surface of the medals was covered with the thinnest layers of precious metals of 5 microns. The method of electroplating or electroplating was used (gold in the amount of 0.307 g, silver – 0.167 g was spent on the medal).
After the adoption on December 18, 1968 of the Resolution "On changing the procedure for awarding a gold medal to graduates of secondary schools and establishing a certificate of commendation for those graduating from these schools", the awarding of silver medals was temporarily discontinued.
Now, to be awarded a gold medal, it was required to have annual grades of "5" in all subjects during the study in grades 9-10, pass final exams with a grade of "5", behave approximately and actively participate in the public life of the school.
Medals of the 1977 model
After the adoption of the new Constitution of the USSR on October 7, 1977, changes were made to the coat of arms of the RSFSR – a red five-pointed star with a gold edging in the upper part of the wreath was added. Some changes have also taken place in the coats of arms of other Union republics. In this regard, innovations concerning state symbols appeared on the coat of arms of school medals. There were no other changes on the medals of this sample.
In 1985, the Council of Ministers of the USSR, by a decree of August 6, rehabilitated the silver medal, which was awarded to graduates following the results of the 1985-1986 academic year. The mint began to mint silver medals on the model of gold 1977, but with the inscription: "FOR SUCCESS IN TEACHING, WORK AND FOR EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOR." In addition to the removal of the word "excellent", there were no changes in size and design compared to the 1977 model.
The composition of the alloy from which the silver medals were made has also changed. Tompak was used instead of nickel silver. The thickness of the silvering has increased to 6 microns.
These samples of medals were awarded to students until the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991.