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