This is a fine original Soviet Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class, serial No. 297,807. This Order of the Patriotic War was awarded to Akopyan, Andrias Ivanovich (a District Operative of the People’s Commissariat of Procurements in the city of Goris) on June 23, 1945. This Order of the Patriotic War was awarded in recognition of grain collection/confiscation. This award is in good condition but does show some light enamel wear beneath the handle of the sickle, along with some slight discoloration on the 7 o'clock arm. Displays beautifully - matching spinner on the reverse.
 
Part of a fairly unique phenomenon, this OPW2 is one of only 3,101 2nd class orders awarded grain collection/confiscation throughout the entire USSR. Due to the fact that each republic issued their own decree for awarding OPW's along this criteria, this specific order is one of only 80 2nd class examples awarded by the Armenian SSR. 
 
Buyer will be provided with relevant archival scans (2) and a research article (in Russian) for contextual information about the phenomenon of awarding the OPW for grain collection. Translation will be included for scanned document.
 
The Order of the Patriotic War (or Орден Отечественной войны in Russian) is a  Soviet military decoration established on 20 May 1942 and awarded for heroic deeds during the German-Soviet War to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, as well as to partisans.
 
This was the first Soviet order established during the war, and the first Soviet order divided into classes. Deeds are awarded with the order (shooting down three aircraft as a fighter pilot, destroying two heavy or three medium or four light tanks, capturing a warship, repairing an aircraft under fire after landing on a hostile territory, etc) were awarded with the first class.
The medal was also given to some allied troops and commanders, including western allies. Altogether, over 324,903 of the 1st class and 951,652 of the 2nd class were issued during the war.