Medal to a Defender of Free Russia, Mint-made Collector's
Version, early 1990s.
In brass, measures 34.0 mm wide. Weighs 19.1 g not including
the suspension and connecting link. The obverse of the medal
shows a cross with St. George slaying the dragon and
inscription "August 1991". Reverse shows barricades in
Moscow in front of the Russian Parliament building and
raised inscription ЗАЩИТНИКУ СВОБОДНОЙ РОССИИ ("To a
Defender of Free Russia.")
The medal is in excellent condition. It shows nice patina to
the brass, while the original "gilt" mint luster is
beautifully preserved and bright on both sides. The ribbon
is old but immaculately clean.
The Medal to a Defender of Free Russia was established in
July 1992. It was the first official Russian decoration to
appear after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was
awarded exclusively to people who took part in the fighting
in Moscow on the side of Yeltsin's pro-democracy forces
during the attempted Communist coup in August 1991 (the
abortive coup directly led to the dissolution of the USSR
later that year.)
Fewer than 2000 of these medals were ever bestowed, and all
the officially awarded examples had silver plating and an
engraved serial number. There were also some surplus medals
that were left unfinished and unissued that eventually made
it to collectors market (as well as a series of identical
medals in copper made specifically for collectors later
during the 90s). The example offered here is from the
initial unissued series without the serial number or silver
plating. Although never awarded, it is still a mint-made
original, and as such, of distinct interest to a medal
collector or Russian history buff.
/See Grigoriev "Awards of the New Russia" ,
page. 48/
$125.00 