The above is a rough translation (as I don't speak Russian). Vintage Russian desk medal. The medal measures 2.25" in diameter. Weight: 82 grams. Relief of the monument on one side, and what look like 2 steel workers on the obverse, with impressed signature and date A. бакланов 1983. There is a noted Russian diplomat possibly matching that name: Andrei Baklanov, but I'm not sure if that's him, or a different artist's name. I'm not sure what kind of metal it's cast in, but it's light and non-magnetic. An interesting historical artifact from the Soviet era. Tarnished, with light surface wear.
Dozens of similar Russian desk medals were issued by the government and various organizations, throughout modern Soviet history. Some celebrate military, industrial, scientific, historical and other Soviet triumphs; many celebrate the anniversary of the founding or meetings of different Russian governmental organizations, including the KGB, or as here, the Monument to the Heroic Defense of Leningrad during WWII. I acquired a small lot of these Soviet desk medals and will be listing them at auction today. None of these are common, and some are quite rare and desirable.We have been a family business for more than 30 years. We maintained a storefront in Amherst, MA for over 10 years, and we have been selling on eBay for 2 decades. We focus on rare books, ephemera, early photography & vintage textiles. We pack carefully, ship quickly, and have thousands of happy customers. Our feedback speaks for itself, so purchase with confidence.