History

The Development of the Virgin Lands Medal was instituted in October 20, 1956 by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. This medal was conferred in recognition of reclaiming and developing virgin lands within the Soviet Union. Over 1,500,000 were awarded.

The Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands" was awarded to farmers, workers of state farms, MTS, construction and other organisations, the Party, government, labour and Komsomol workers for their good work in the development of virgin and fallow lands in Kazakhstan, Siberia, the Ural, the Volga and the North Caucasus for a period of usually at least two years.

The medal is composed of brass and measures 32mm in diameter. The ring at 12 o'clock is made as a part of the medal. The obverse depicts a harvesting machine collecting crop in the foreground and the elevator shaft in the background.

The obverse Russian inscription translates to: "For Development of Virgin Lands".