This extraordinary pairing represents one of the rarest opportunities to own authentic artifacts directly connected to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster—an original 1987 photograph of the Chernobyl Unit 4 sarcophagus and an exceptionally scarce component from within the Unit 4 reactor control room itself. The photograph, taken only a year after the explosion and during the earliest stage of containment efforts, captures the first sarcophagus as it stood amid an environment still profoundly shaped by the catastrophe.

The accompanying artifact is an original electrical tag from the core cartogram inside the Unit 4 control room—the operational heart of the reactor on the morning of April 26th, 1986. This piece is the only known example from the Unit 4 control room currently in private circulation, making it an unmatched relic of one of the most consequential technological and human events in modern history. As expected for material originating from within the reactor complex, the tag retains a degree of surface contamination, further underscoring its authenticity and direct connection to the site.

AUCTION PRICE: $6,500

This remarkable lot features more than 40 authentic medals and enamel pins related to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and its broader historical legacy — representing what is likely the largest private collection ever offered on the market. Spanning decades of awards, recognition, and commemorative issuance, this assembled set captures the human stories tied to one of the most significant events of the modern era.

Included in the collection are medals and pins awarded to:

• Plant workers for long service and operational achievement

• Liquidators who participated in cleanup and stabilization efforts after the 1986 disaster

• Humanitarian supporters recognized for aid and advocacy

• Chernobyl Exclusion Zone specialists and personnel

• Various commemorative issues marking anniversaries and milestones related to the plant and its legacy

Each piece carries unique design details and historical context, reflecting Soviet-era and post-Soviet commemorative practices. The collection includes a mix of enamel pins, service medals, and official badges — many of which are rare or hard-to-find outside institutional holdings or former government archives.

This comprehensive set is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for serious collectors of Chernobyl memorabilia, Cold War artifacts, nuclear history, or military and civilian service awards. Whether displayed as a curated set or researched individually, these medals and pins offer a powerful, personal, and tangible connection to the people and stories shaped by Chernobyl’s history.

AUCTION PRICE: $3,250

This original NOVARKA Chernobyl New Safe Confinement construction-site sign is a rare and highly significant artifact from one of the most important engineering projects of the 21st century. Produced and used during the building of the massive steel arch that now encloses the damaged Unit 4 reactor, this sign comes directly from the active construction zone—an area that was tightly controlled and accessible only to project personnel. Items connected to the NSC’s construction rarely leave institutional hands, making this an exceptional piece for collectors of Chernobyl, engineering, and nuclear-history material.

The New Safe Confinement represents the largest movable structure ever built, designed to secure the remains of the 1986 sarcophagus and ensure environmental safety for generations. This sign stands as a tangible reminder of that unprecedented multinational effort, symbolizing a turning point from emergency containment to long-term stabilization. Bold, authentic, and deeply tied to the modern legacy of Chernobyl, it is a standout addition to any advanced collection.

AUCTION PRICE: $500

This original canteen bowl from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is an exceptionally rare relic from one of the most historically significant industrial sites of the 20th century. Bearing the official plant insignia, this piece once served workers inside the power plant complex itself—long before the 1986 disaster transformed the facility into a symbol known around the world. Items of daily life from the CNPP are exceedingly scarce today, as most were discarded, lost, or remain inaccessible within restricted zones. Authentic, marked pieces such as this bowl virtually never appear on the market.

Well-preserved and unmistakably tied to the plant’s operational era, this bowl offers collectors a tangible connection to the workers, routines, and environment that defined life inside the Chernobyl facility prior to the accident. It is an ideal addition for those interested in Soviet industrial history, Cold War-era artifacts, or rare objects directly linked to the legacy of Chernobyl.

AUCTION PRICE: $450

This vintage Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant uniform patch is an authentic and highly collectible relic from one of the most historically significant industrial sites of the 20th century. Worn by plant personnel on official work uniforms, this patch directly represents the workforce responsible for operating and maintaining the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant during the Soviet era. Original CNPP uniform patches are increasingly difficult to find, as most were lost, destroyed, or remained within restricted areas following the 1986 disaster.

Featuring period-correct design and unmistakable plant identification, this patch offers a powerful and personal connection to the people behind the facility—not just the event itself. It is an ideal centerpiece for collectors of Chernobyl artifacts, Soviet-era memorabilia, or nuclear history, and displays exceptionally well alongside documents, photographs, or equipment from the plant. Rare, authentic, and deeply evocative, this patch preserves a tangible link to the human side of Chernobyl’s legacy.

AUCTION PRICE: $350

This vintage Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant uniform patch is an authentic and highly collectible relic from one of the most historically significant industrial sites of the 20th century. Worn by plant personnel on official work uniforms, this patch directly represents the workforce responsible for operating and maintaining the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant during the Soviet era. Original CNPP uniform patches are increasingly difficult to find, as most were lost, destroyed, or remained within restricted areas following the 1986 disaster.

Featuring period-correct design and unmistakable plant identification, this patch offers a powerful and personal connection to the people behind the facility—not just the event itself. It is an ideal centerpiece for collectors of Chernobyl artifacts, Soviet-era memorabilia, or nuclear history, and displays exceptionally well alongside documents, photographs, or equipment from the plant. Rare, authentic, and deeply evocative, this patch preserves a tangible link to the human side of Chernobyl’s legacy.

AUCTION PRICE: $350

This authentic Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant worker uniform patch represents the modern identity of the facility decades after the 1986 accident, highlighting its ongoing role in decommissioning, containment, and long-term management efforts. Worn on the uniforms of personnel actively involved in operations, maintenance, and environmental monitoring, this patch is a rare piece of contemporary CNPP history. Unlike vintage memorabilia tied solely to the plant’s operational era, this emblem reflects the continuing human presence and work being done at one of the world’s most complex industrial sites.

The patch features official plant insignia and design elements used by current staff, making it a meaningful artifact for collectors of nuclear history, industrial memorabilia, and Chernobyl-related material. It displays beautifully and pairs well with historical pieces from the site—providing a visual narrative that spans from the plant’s early years through its ongoing legacy. Authentic, hard to obtain, and rich with contextual significance, this patch offers a tangible connection to the people who have lived, worked, and continue to contribute to the story of Chernobyl today.

AUCTION PRICE: $350

This official Chornobyl (Chernobyl) Nuclear Power Plant 30th Anniversary workers pin is an authentic commemorative piece issued directly to ChNPP staff in recognition of their service and continued commitment to the plant’s operations and legacy. Produced to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, this pin was never a public souvenir—distribution was limited to employees and affiliated personnel, making surviving examples increasingly scarce.

The pin features distinctive ChNPP insignia and anniversary markings, symbolizing three decades of engineering, operations, and stewardship at one of the most historically significant nuclear sites in the world. Crafted in the traditional style of official plant awards, it reflects the post-Soviet era of the facility while maintaining the visual language and seriousness of earlier Soviet-era worker honors.

This piece holds strong appeal for collectors of Chernobyl memorabilia, nuclear industry artifacts, Soviet and post-Soviet awards, and Cold War–era history. More than a display item, it represents the often-overlooked chapter of Chernobyl’s history: the years of continued work, monitoring, and responsibility carried out by plant staff long after the 1986 disaster.

AUCTION PRICE: $200

This official Chornobyl (Chernobyl) Nuclear Power Plant workers pin is an exceptional and historically important artifact issued to plant staff to commemorate the start of operations in 1977, the year Unit 1 was brought online. Awarded internally and never offered for public sale, this pin represents the birth of one of the Soviet Union’s most ambitious nuclear energy projects and the beginning of full-scale operations at the ChNPP site.

The pin features period-correct Soviet-era design elements and official plant symbolism, reflecting the optimism, technological pride, and industrial ambition that surrounded the launch of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. These pins were worn by engineers, technicians, operators, and support personnel who played a direct role in bringing the facility into operation, making surviving examples deeply personal relics of the plant’s earliest workforce.

For collectors, this piece occupies a unique place in Chernobyl history: it predates the 1986 disaster and captures the plant at the moment of its inception, before global notoriety reshaped its legacy. It pairs powerfully with later worker pins and medals, offering a rare opportunity to document the full lifecycle of the plant—from its optimistic beginning to its complex aftermath.

AUCTION PRICE: $450

This official Chornobyl (Chernobyl) Nuclear Power Plant 30-Year Service workers pin is a highly meaningful and scarce award issued exclusively to plant staff who completed three decades of service at the ChNPP. Unlike anniversary pins tied to dates or events, this piece represents a personal milestone, honoring individuals who devoted a significant portion of their lives to the operation, maintenance, safety, and long-term stewardship of one of the most historically significant nuclear facilities in the world.

Awarded internally and never offered for public sale, this pin was presented to veteran employees whose careers often spanned multiple eras of the plant’s history—from active power generation through post-accident stabilization, decommissioning, and containment efforts. It stands as a quiet but powerful symbol of endurance, technical expertise, and responsibility carried by those who worked at Chernobyl long after global attention faded.

The design features official ChNPP insignia and service-length markings consistent with institutional worker awards, making it instantly recognizable to collectors familiar with Soviet and post-Soviet industrial honors. For advanced collectors of Chernobyl artifacts, nuclear industry memorabilia, and worker-issued awards, this pin is especially desirable due to its limited eligibility and deeply human significance.

AUCTION PRICE: $150

This official Chornobyl (Chernobyl) Nuclear Power Plant workers liquidation pin is an exceptionally rare and historically significant award issued only to ChNPP plant employees who directly participated in liquidation activities following the 1986 disaster. Unlike more commonly encountered liquidation medals awarded to military units or civilian responders, this pin was reserved exclusively for plant staff, recognizing their unique role and elevated risk as insiders who understood the facility and were called upon to act under extraordinary conditions.

Never commercially sold and distributed in extremely limited numbers, this pin honors engineers, operators, technicians, and specialists who took part in critical stabilization, containment, and recovery efforts at their own workplace—often in the immediate aftermath of the accident. These individuals worked not as outside responders, but as core personnel, navigating familiar systems under catastrophic circumstances to help prevent further escalation.

The pin features official ChNPP insignia and liquidation-specific symbolism, making it immediately distinguishable from general liquidation awards. For collectors, it represents one of the most difficult ChNPP worker pins to obtain, combining rarity, institutional provenance, and profound historical gravity.

AUCTION PRICE: $500

This official Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Management Agency workers pin is a contemporary, worker-issued emblem currently awarded to agency personnel responsible for managing, securing, and monitoring the Exclusion Zone. Unlike historical or commemorative souvenirs, this pin represents the ongoing human effort required to maintain safety, environmental oversight, access control, and infrastructure within one of the most unique restricted areas on Earth.

Issued internally to employees of the Exclusion Zone Management Agency, the pin is worn by staff involved in radiation monitoring, security enforcement, ecological research support, and site administration. Its design incorporates official agency symbolism and modern Ukrainian institutional aesthetics, reflecting the transition of the Exclusion Zone from a Soviet-era disaster site to a long-term managed environment under Ukrainian authority.

Because these pins are not produced for the public and are typically retained by workers as personal identifiers or service mementos, examples available to collectors are uncommon. For collectors of Chernobyl artifacts, nuclear history, and modern institutional insignia, this piece offers a rare opportunity to document the present-day chapter of Chernobyl’s story—one that is still actively unfolding.

AUCTION PRICE: $200

This Chernobyl Memorial pin is a powerful commemorative piece created to honor the lives, sacrifices, and lasting impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. Designed as a symbol of remembrance rather than celebration, this pin represents the collective memory of the workers, liquidators, first responders, and families whose lives were forever changed by the world’s worst nuclear accident.

The pin features solemn memorial symbolism associated with Chernobyl remembrance—imagery and motifs intended to convey loss, resilience, and responsibility. Such pins are commonly associated with memorial sites, anniversary remembrances, and commemorative gatherings, making them deeply meaningful artifacts rather than mass-produced souvenirs. They serve as tangible reminders of the human cost of nuclear catastrophe and the importance of remembering those who stood in harm’s way.

For collectors, this pin holds strong appeal as a memorial-focused artifact, distinct from operational or worker-issued insignia. It complements collections centered on Chernobyl history, liquidation honors, and nuclear remembrance, and is equally suited for respectful display in private collections, museums, or educational exhibits.

AUCTION PRICE: $100

This Chernobyl 5-Year Anniversary commemorative pin marks one of the earliest formal milestones following the 1986 disaster, issued to commemorate five years since the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Created during a period when the consequences were still unfolding and many liquidation and stabilization efforts were ongoing, this pin carries exceptional historical weight, reflecting how the tragedy was understood and memorialized in its immediate aftermath.

Pins from early anniversaries are especially significant because they were produced before Chernobyl became distant history—when the event remained a living reality for workers, liquidators, families, and affected communities. The design typically incorporates strong symbolic elements associated with Chernobyl remembrance, nuclear imagery, and dates marking 1986–1991, capturing the solemn tone of the era rather than later, more retrospective interpretations.

This piece is highly desirable for collectors of Chernobyl memorabilia, Soviet-era commemoratives, and nuclear history, as it represents one of the earliest commemorative recognitions of the disaster. It pairs naturally with liquidation medals, worker pins, and later anniversary issues, allowing collectors to trace the evolving memory of Chernobyl over time.

AUCTION PRICE: $150

This Chernobyl Museum Challenge Medal is a distinctive commemorative piece associated with the Chernobyl Museum, created to recognize engagement, dedication, or special participation tied to the preservation and interpretation of Chernobyl’s history. Unlike standard souvenirs, challenge medals of this type are typically produced in limited quantities and intended for presentation or recognition, giving them a sense of exclusivity and institutional provenance.

The medal features Chernobyl-related iconography and museum symbolism, reflecting the mission of preserving the memory of the 1986 disaster, honoring those affected, and educating future generations. Challenge medals occupy a unique niche between formal awards and collectibles—substantial in hand, visually striking, and designed for display rather than everyday wear. Their format makes them especially appealing to advanced collectors seeking objects with depth beyond pins or badges.

For collectors of Chernobyl memorabilia, nuclear history artifacts, and museum-issued items, this medal represents a rare opportunity to acquire a piece directly connected to the ongoing effort to document and interpret the legacy of Chernobyl. It complements worker pins, liquidation awards, and memorial items while standing out as a museum-associated commemorative with enduring educational significance.

AUCTION PRICE: $250

This is a Soviet commemorative medal (not a currency coin) related to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

What it is

A “Chernobyl Liquidator” medal, issued to people who took part in the liquidation (cleanup and containment) of the Chernobyl accident following the 1986 reactor explosion.

Text on the medal (translated)

Around the edge:

• «УЧАСТНИКУ ЛИКВИДАЦИИ АВАРИИ» – To a Participant in the Liquidation of the Accident

• «ЧЕРНОБЫЛЬСКАЯ АЭС» – Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
  
  

Imagery

• The structure shown is Reactor No. 4 with the early sarcophagus, as it appeared after emergency containment.

• The design is intentionally stark, emphasizing duty and sacrifice rather than celebration.

Historical context

• Issued in the late 1980s–early 1990s, during the final years of the USSR and shortly after.

• Awarded to liquidators: soldiers, firefighters, engineers, miners, medical workers, and civilians mobilized to control radiation, decontaminate areas, and build containment structures.

• These medals were often official recognition pieces, sometimes accompanied by certificates, though many were later privately produced commemoratives using similar designs.

AUCTION PRICE: $300

A commemorative medal marking the founding of Slavutych, the city built specifically to house workers and families displaced from Chernobyl after the nuclear disaster.

Text on the medal

• «СЛАВУТИЧ» – Slavutych

• 1986 – the year Slavutych was founded

Historical context

• Slavutych was constructed rapidly after the Chernobyl disaster to replace Pripyat, which was permanently evacuated.

• The city became home to:

  • Former Chernobyl plant workers

  • Engineers and specialists

  • Liquidators and their families

• It is often called “the last city of the USSR”, as construction continued through the Soviet collapse.

AUCTION PRICE: $350