2017 Mongolia Övörkhangai Province Capital Arvaikheer City 290th Anniversary Badge – Uncommon Original Issue

Description

Original Item – Only One Available. An uncommon 2017 commemorative badge for the 290th Anniversary of Arvaikheer City, the administrative capital of Mongolia’s Övörkhangai Province. The anniversary follows Arvaikheer’s traditional foundation from 1727, when the principal khüree of the khoshuu was established in the area and became the nucleus from which the present city developed. This is an important distinction in understanding the jubilee: Arvaikheer was formally designated a city only in 1963, but its historical lineage is traced back nearly three centuries to the establishment of the old Arvaikheer Khüree. The 290th anniversary was celebrated on 28–30 July 2017 as a major regional jubilee, together with the “Arvagar Kheer Great Speed–2017” Khangai regional horse races, giving this locally issued piece a very specific place in the modern history of Övörkhangai.

The badge takes the form of a gilt circular medallion suspended from an enameled Mongolian national-color bar bearing the Soyombo. Across the face, “Arvaikheer City” and “290 years” frame the oversized anniversary numeral, with a horse head incorporated into the “2” and traditional decorative motifs rising behind it. The equestrian imagery is especially appropriate to the 2017 jubilee, whose celebrations were closely connected with the Arvagar Kheer regional racing festival and the area's long-established horse culture. Finished in rich gilt with red and blue enamel on the suspension, the piece retains its original horizontal pin fitting. Unlike national anniversary medals produced for countrywide distribution, city and sum jubilee badges were localized commemorative issues with a much narrower circulation, and individual anniversary types appear only sporadically on the market. A particularly attractive original for a collection of Mongolian provincial insignia, local-government commemoratives, or modern historical badges.