AFGHANISTAN: Democratic Republic, AE medal (32.01g), SH1358 (1979), 38mm bronze medal, portrait of Nur Muhammad Taraki left // Emblem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan with central element "Khalq" at center, the faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) led by Taraki; this is a very rare modern medal from early Communist Afghanistan, surface contacts marks, AU. Nur Muhammad Taraki (1917-1979) was an Afghan revolutionary communist politician, journalist and writer. He was a founding member of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) who served as its General Secretary from 1965 to 1979 and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council from 1978 to 1979. He rose to power through the Saur Revolution of 1978 at the head of the PDPA, which overthrew Afghan president Mohammed Daoud Khan, who had himself taken power in the 1973 Afghan coup d'état and established an autocratic one-party system in the country. Daoud and most of his family were executed at the Arg in the capital city of Kabul by PDPA-affiliated military officers, after which his supporters were also purged and killed. The successful PDPA uprising resulted in the creation of a socialist Afghan government that was closely aligned with the Soviet Union, with Nur Muhammad Taraki serving as the PDPA's General Secretary of the Revolutionary Council. Taraki's leadership was short-lived and marked by a cult of personality centered around him that Amin had cultivated. The state press and subsequent propaganda started to refer to him as the "Great Leader" and "Great Teacher", and his portrait became a common sight throughout the country. Taraki was overthrown on September 14, 1979 and then murdered on October 8, 1979. His death was a factor that led to the Soviet intervention in December 1979.

Estimate: USD 75-100