Russia - Imperial Russia: Saint George Medal for Bravery, 3rd Class in Silver, pre-1913 issue, reverse bearing the impressed award number: ’258090’. Fitted with ring suspension, this bears the Kokoshnik assayer's silver hallmark ’84’ and makers details for ‘ЯK’, an unknown 20th Century maker from Saint Petersburg. Together with a ribbon loop and recently affixed bow ribbon.
Condition: slightly polished with evidence of having been worn, Very Fine.
The Medal for Bravery with four classes was established during the reign of Tsar Alexander II on 3rd August 1878. After the death of Emperor Alexander III the Medal for Bravery was re-issued around 1894 wearing the semblance of the new sovereign, Tsar Nicholas II.
Initially no changes were made to the medal, but on 10th August 1913, a sweeping amendment was introduced by which the Medal for Bravery was incorporated into the statute of the Order of Saint George and its name was changed to Saint George Medal for Bravery.
Little could be guessed at the time how much this decision was timely, considering that a year later the awarding of the Saint George Crosses and Medals would reach astronomical numbers, due to the years of bitter fighting against the Central Powers and the Ottoman Empire.
From 23rd July 1915 the Gold Medals, similarly to the golden Saint George Crosses, were manufactured with a reduced content in gold. From January 1917 the Saint George Medals for Bravery were manufactured with substitute yellow or which metal.
The medal was awarded to non-commissioned officers, soldiers and sailors as well as to civilians for exceptional acts of valour in time of war or peace.
