Russia – St George Medal for Bravery, 4th Class, No. 977775, c. 1916
kr 1,700.00
In stock
Description
RUSSIAN EMPIRE – St George Medal for Bravery, 4th Class, No. 977775, c. 1916
(Георгиевская медаль «За храбрость» 4-й степени)
Awarded during the First World War, the St George Medal was an official Imperial Russian decoration for enlisted soldiers, non-commissioned officers and sailors who demonstrated exceptional courage in action. It was generally granted for acts of bravery that did not qualify for the higher St George Cross. Under the revised St George Statute of 1913, the earlier Medal “For Bravery” was formally incorporated into the St George system and divided into four classes.
The obverse bears the left-facing portrait of Emperor Nicholas II surrounded by the abbreviated inscription “Б.М. НИКОЛАЙ II ИМП. И САМОД. ВСЕРОСС.”, meaning “By the Grace of God, Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias.” The reverse is inscribed “ЗА ХРАБРОСТЬ”—“For Bravery”—together with the individual serial number 977775 and “4 СТЕП.”, identifying it as a Fourth-Class award.
The Fourth Class was struck in high-grade silver and normally measured approximately 28 mm in diameter. The serial number falls within the large wartime production of 1916, when more than half a million Fourth-Class medals were distributed. Comparable officially catalogued medals numbered above one million are recorded as Petrograd Mint issues of 1916 in silver, weighing approximately 15–16 grams.
The decoration is suspended from the black-and-orange St George ribbon, historically associated with Russia’s principal awards for military courage. The present ribbon is arranged on a pin-backed pentagonal mounting, which appears to be a later replacement rather than the medal’s original Imperial-period suspension.
Each St George Medal was individually numbered, and surviving award rolls can sometimes identify the original recipient, military unit and cited act of bravery. No confirmed recipient for serial number 977775 was located in the publicly accessible sources consulted, so further archival research would be required for a reliable attribution.
Condition: Fine; portrait, imperial inscription, award designation and serial number remain clearly legible; extensive surface scratches, contact marks, edge wear and age-related toning consistent with prolonged use. Suspension eye and connecting ring intact. Later replaces black-and-orange ribbon and pin-backed mounting in good condition.