Russian Soviet 50 Years of the Armed Forces Full Size Jubilee Medal

The Russian Soviet 50 Years of the Armed Forces Full Size Jubilee Medal was instituted in 1968 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Soviet Armed Forces. The medal was issued to military personnel and select civilians in recognition of their service and contributions to the Soviet military establishment. The decoration is made of brass and features a left-facing profile of a soldier, sailor, and airman on the obverse, symbolizing the unity and strength of the armed services. The reverse is inscribed with “50 Years of the Soviet Armed Forces 1918–1968” in Cyrillic characters. The medal is suspended from a red and grey striped pentagonal ribbon, representing Soviet military colors. This piece reflects the Soviet practice of issuing commemorative medals for significant anniversaries and events. It serves as both a historical artifact and a representation of mid-20th-century Soviet military commemoration.