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Medal In memory of Alexander III
(Full size)
亞歷山大三世紀念獎章
(官方版)
Item number: M41
Year: AD 1896
Material: Silver
Size: Order 27.84 x 27.84 mm
Weight: 12.73 g
Manufactured by: St. Petersburg Mint
Provenance: Spink 2022
In the year AD 1896, in order to commemorate his father, Alexander III, on the 50th anniversary of his birth on February 26, the newly ascended Tsar Nicholas II issued a silver commemorative medal, which was designed by the sculptor A. Griliches Jr. and produced by the St. Petersburg Mint.
The obverse side features the right-facing portrait of Alexander III, with a laurel branch on the left and the Russian legend “Emperor Alexander III” (ИМП. АЛЕКСАНДРЪ III) on the right. The reverse side, between the crown and the cross, bears the years of the emperor’s reign, “1881-1895.”
During the reign of Alexander III, the Russian Empire enjoyed a rare period of peace, and there were no major upheavals domestically. In his younger years, Alexander III often presented himself with a strong and martial image. In AD 1888, a tragic incident occurred when the Imperial train derailed at high speed, resulting in the Borki train disaster that claimed the lives of 15 people. Despite the psychological impact and his own injuries, Alexander III personally participated in the rescue. However, the incident and the subsequent illness took a toll on the emperor’s health, leading to his untimely death at the age of 49 in AD 1895.
The medal was awarded to the military personnel and officials, who were serving the state during the reign of Alexander III, with a total issuance of 299,765.
Borna Barac, Reference Catalogue Orders Medals and Decorations of the World : instituted until 1945 : Part IV Bronze Book P-Z (Craotia:OBOL d.o.o. Zagreb, 2016)