Description
Documented Group of Soviet Awards
Awarded to Ivan Vasilyevich Popov (Иван Васильевич Попов) (1989-1974)
Russian, Soviet engineer – geologist, one of the founders of domestic engineering geology, professor of the Department of Soil Science and Engineering Geology at Moscow State University
This group of Soviet awards consists of the following items:
Lenin Prize Medal #3389 with box
Made of 23K gold. Measures 30.50 mm in height, 27.09 mm in diameter and weighs 20.3 grams without its suspension. Its serial number is located at the bottom of its reverse.
Absolutely pristine condition with stunning details and no signs of wear. The original suspension remains fully functional, retaining its gold plating, though some areas have developed a rich patina. The connection ring is uncut, and free of repairs.
The accompanying award box is exquisitely crafted, featuring red velvet inlays and showing no damage.
A truly stunning piece—impossible to improve upon!
Order of Lenin #277307 with order booklet and box
Made of solid gold, platinum and enamels. Measures 45.06 mm in height, 38.47 mm in width and weighs 33.1 grams without its suspension. The stamped serial number and raised mint mark are located at the center of its reverse.
The order is in superb condition with beautiful enamels and minor contact marks only. All details are crisp and even Lenin’s head shows virtually no wear. There have been no repairs and the connection ring has not been cut. The reverse is in pristine condition as well and its double layer steel suspension and ribbon original and time period to the award.
Its order booklet and luxurious box are in great condition too. All pages are present and the booklet mentions this order of Lenin only.
Medal State Prize Medal 3rd class #1969 with booklet with box
Made of gold- and silver-plated German silver. It measures 29.38 mm in height including its eyelet, 25.86 mm in diameter and weighs 8.7 gram without its suspension. The medal is numbered #1969 on its reverse.
In mint condition with sharp edges, full gold and silver plating and no traces of wear. The letters on the reverse are crisp as is the serial number. The suspension includes its time period and original ribbon, rectangular plate, hexagon nut and screwplate. The connection ring between the suspension and the medal has not been cut and its screw has not been shortened.
The medal comes with its leather covered ID booklet which is in great condition.
Medal of Sino-Soviet Friendship with document and box
Made of gold plated brass and enamels. It measures 46.49 mm in height, 39.72 mm in width and it weighs 23.0 grams without suspension. On the obverse the national flags of the USSR and China are portrayed and the motto “Long Live Sino Soviet Friendship”.
The medal is in excellent condition, with sharp details and virtually no signs of wear. Its gold plating remains fully intact, and the red enamels are flawlessly preserved.
It comes with its pink award document, which is in perfect condition. The blue velvet inlay of its rare presentation box shows some wear, and part of the closing clip has detached from the side. However, the box still closes securely and remains firmly shut even without it.
Medal for Valiant Labor
Made of brass. Measures 32.49 in diameter, 37.15 in height including its eyelet and weighs 18.1 grams without its suspension.
In excellent condition with light overall wear. It comes with its original double layer suspension and old ribbon.
Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of Moscow Medal
Made of brass. Measures 37.04 in diameter, 42.27 in height including its eyelet and weighs 23.6 grams without its suspension.
In absolute mint condition with perfect details, time period suspension and correctly folded ribbon.
Medal for the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Lenin with document
Made of gold plated brass. Measures 32.05 in diameter, 37.06 in height including its eyelet and weighs 18.7 grams without its suspension.
In mint condition with full gold plating and original suspension device. Its document is in excellent condition as well.
This set was acquired directly from Popov’s granddaughter, who was kind enough to also provide us with a digital book about her family. Key details from the relevant pages can be read below:
Early Life and Education
Born in 1889 in Riga, Ivan Vasilyevich Popov was the son of Vasily Yakovlevich Popov, a mathematics professor and later Director of the Riga Imperial Peter I Real School.
Initially, he studied at St. Petersburg Cadet Corps, but in 1904, after completing five years, transferred to the Naval Cadet Corps due to his family’s relation to Admiral Pavel Nakhimov. He was a brilliant student, but was expelled for reading banned leftist literature.
He later enrolled at Don Polytechnic Institute in Novocherkassk, specializing in mining engineering, where he graduated top of his class. However, his diploma certification was delayed for a year due to a lack of students in his field at the time.
He later married Tatyana Nikolaevna Elishkevich, and they had a daughter, Lidia Ivanovna Popova (later Lyamina)
Arrest and Labor Camp Imprisonment
During the early Soviet purges, Ivan Vasilyevich Popov was arrested. This happened before 1937, which likely saved his life.
In a letter from prison, he wrote:
“Everything is based on denunciations by frightened, vile intellectuals. I cannot take responsibility for more than I have done. I fear repression against my family, but I think that if I become a cowardly liar, I will lose your love and the respect of our children, and thus I will become useless to you. I expect a long exile in a labor camp.”
When he was arrested, some “kind” neighbors offered to hide the family’s valuables to protect them from confiscation during the house search. However, after the search was over, they denied taking anything, effectively stealing the family’s silverware and other valuables.
He was released before 1937, sending a telegram from Krasnodar to his family stating:
“Released, heading to Moscow.”
Aftermath and Survival
After his release, the family did not return to Krasnodar. Instead, they sold their house and moved to Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod), where he was supposedly promised work.
However, the person who had “sold” them an apartment did not actually own it, causing them to lose their money once again.
Eventually, they relocated to Moscow, where old friends helped Ivan Vasilyevich find work at “Hydroproject” (Гидропроект), a state engineering firm, around 1932
His legal survival strategy: When filling out official documents, he never mentioned his arrest, since he was sentenced by an NKVD “troika” (a secret police tribunal) and technically had no court conviction. This loophole protected him from further repression
Engineering and Academic Achievements
After rebuilding his career, Ivan Vasilyevich Popov became a renowned Soviet engineer-geologist. He began by teaching mineralogy and geological sciences at the Kuban Pedagogical Institute before moving into applied geology and hydroengineering.
His key contributions include:
- Hydroelectric stations on the Yangtze River in China, where he worked as a geological consultant.
- The Aswan High Dam in Egypt, a major Soviet-Egyptian infrastructure project.
- Moscow Metro geological assessments and tunnel design, ensuring the stability of underground routes
His expertise in geomechanics and soil structure was particularly valued in foundation design for major Soviet buildings and underground facilities
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Popov was recognized with some of the highest Soviet honors for his contributions to geology and engineering:
Order of Lenin, the highest civilian decoration in the Soviet Union.
Stalin Prize, awarded for outstanding scientific and technical achievements (later renamed the State Prize).
Lenin Prize, one of the most prestigious scientific awards in the USSR, awarded posthumously
Final Years and Legacy
In his later years, Popov became a professor and head of a department at Moscow State University (MGU).
He continued working at MGU as a consultant until his passing in 1974.
After his death, his office in the main MGU building was converted into a memorial room, preserving his scientific library and personal archive.
His family donated his collection of books and research materials to MGU, ensuring that his work would continue to be used by future geologists and engineers.
He was well-respected by his students and colleagues, many of whom went on to become leading figures in Soviet geology.
The complete PDF can be downloaded here and more information online on Popov can be read here
