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In Israel, law enforcement agencies show no interest in the circulation of USSR awards. The purchase, sale, import, and collection of such items are not prosecuted by law. One can safely engage in this activity as it does not raise questions from the authorities.
In Israel, law enforcement agencies show no interest in the circulation of USSR awards. The purchase, sale, import, and collection of such items are not prosecuted by law. One can safely engage in this activity as it does not raise questions from the authorities.
However, when importing any collectible materials, whether they are awards or coins, a tax must be paid. This tax, known as MAM (VAT), is 17-18% of the value of the imported items. This rule applies to all imported goods, including, for example, Rolex watches, and is not specifically related to awards.
The situation changes dramatically when it comes to antiquities. Items older than 200-300 years are under strict state control. Illegal trafficking of antiques, even if it's an accidentally found Byzantine coin, can result in a prison sentence. A special license is required for legal activities with such items.
Searching with a metal detector in archaeological zones, such as Caesarea or Tzipori, is also strictly prohibited and can lead to serious legal consequences. Even the mere presence of a metal detector in such an area can cause problems. However, searching on beaches is permitted and is a source of income for some people.
In Russia and Belarus, the legislation regarding the collection of awards is much stricter. The import, export, as well as the purchase and sale of state awards are prohibited and can lead to serious consequences. The rules are particularly strict in Russia, where the risk for collectors is very high.
Due to these risks, many prefer not to operate in these countries. Attempting to save money by buying awards cheaper in Russia for export abroad is an extremely reckless step that can lead to criminal prosecution. The ban applies not only to awards but also, for example, to tsarist coins.
In European countries and the USA, the situation is similar to that in Israel. The circulation of awards, including those from the Soviet period, does not arouse much interest from the authorities. Collectors can freely buy and sell items, provided they pay the corresponding taxes.
There are no serious obstacles to this type of activity. It is worth noting that a significant portion of collectible material from the former USSR was exported long ago and is now outside of Russia, which is related to the stricter laws within the country.
In Georgia, there is a legal procedure for exporting collectible awards. To do this, one must contact the Ministry of Culture and obtain an official permit. This document confirms that the items being exported do not represent cultural value for the state.
With such a document, passing through customs control at the airport is problem-free. Customs officers check that the items in the luggage match the photographs in the permit and let them pass. This experience shows that exporting awards is possible if legal procedures are followed.
Although the circulation of USSR awards in Romania is not a problem in itself, there was a sad case involving an attempt to illegally export precious metals. A person tried to export valuable orders by hiding them in a suitcase with 20 kilograms of ordinary badges and iron items.
The heavy weight of the luggage aroused the suspicion of customs officers. Upon inspection, valuable awards were discovered, which was classified as smuggling of precious metals. This led to lengthy legal proceedings that took several years and resulted in significant financial losses. This case serves as a warning against using such methods.
| Country | Risks during shipping |
| Ukraine | Frequent parcel returns |
| Poland | Cases of loss |
| Germany | Cases of loss |
| Austria | Cases of loss |
| USA | Generally reliable, but there have been cases of damaged parcels |
Shipping collectible items by mail also involves certain risks. For example, when shipping from Ukraine, parcels are often returned. There have also been recorded cases of shipments going missing from some European countries.
These problems are not always related to the illegality of the contents but can be caused by the work of postal and customs services. Nevertheless, this creates additional difficulties for collectors engaged in international exchange or trade.
