Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 13013 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 370

Russia, Catherine II, Establishment of the Foundlings' Hospital in St Petersburg, 1763, silver medal by T. Ivanov and J.G. Waechter, crowned and mantled bust right, signed Timofey Ivanov in cyrillic below, rev. allegorical figure of Faith standing by a kneeling mother with an infant in her arms, the hospital building in the distance, signed J.G.Waechter f. on column to left, date in exergue, 50.5mm., 55.67g (cf Diakov 123.1 - R2), extremely fine, old toning, rare, with contemporary integral ring for suspension

Diakov lists an award, instituted by Alexander I in 1808, which is a slightly different 29mm. medal by Nikonov (Diakov 123.5). This present medal, from the original dies of 1763 with narrow bust and signatures on both sides, has a contemporary suspension, and was presumably worn. This would suggest that either awards were made from the date of the foundation, or some early examples of the original larger medal survived and were given as awards later.

Sold for
£5,800