Originally Posted by Stanj

Hi TexasHorseLady Thank you for the photos. The awards and medals you wear are becoming quite popular with collectors in the west with trading clubs and swap meets held through out the US. They are of couse copies since the originals are limited for export without a license because they are historical artifacts valued by the Russians. The originals represent every period and major event during the Soviet Era and were generally worn with pride, as they still are by older people on holidays. There is an interesting booklet available from larger books stores here such as the famous Dom Kinigi (House of Books) on Nevsky pr. for about 30 rubles($1.10) that describes each one and its history. Several of these pins I recognize as being significant honors from that period and are featured in the book. If you have a cruiser friend coming over to the Baltics have them bring a copy of that book for you, I am sure you would appreciate learning the connection between the city and these medals.
As far as being careful wearing them, most people would see them as colorful pins and no more but those who know them would probably appreciate that others knew what they were and that they represented important events in the lives of people during that time.
There is no mistaking the originals with these copies, the originals were made to fine jewelery standards so no one is going to stop you from taking these from the country. I think these medals represent a closer connection to St Petersburg than the usual tourist purchases of nesting dolls and lacquered boxes which are not related to St Petersburg at all. Other appropriate gifts would include original art since this is the art capital of Eastern Europe and if not the whole of Europe, fine jewelery, quality china(the Lomonosov factory and museum is here), photobooks of the palaces and museums, and fashion furs are all closely related to St Petersburg.