Medal and Decoration (page in reconstruction)
not including Nobel medals.
See also : Russia 1700-1900 Sport II Sport rewards and medals Olympic Games Space Travel
External link : list of auction results of the Victoria Cross.
See also : Russia 1700-1900 Sport II Sport rewards and medals Olympic Games Space Travel
External link : list of auction results of the Victoria Cross.
1554 Gold Medal for Bloody Mary
2019 SOLD for CHF 800K before fees
A gold medal of Mary Tudor was sold for £ 276K including premium by Morton and Eden on December 9, 2009. Il is now for sale by NGSA (Numismatica Genevensis) in Geneva on November 18, lot 196 here linked on the Biddr bidding platform.
I narrated it as follows in 2009.
The sixteenth century was the era of religious wars and the terrible life of Mary Tudor confirms that the real challenge of the fratricidal conflicts was the political domination of Europe.
This daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon had received the best education of her time. She had been promised for marriage to princes of Spain and France but was thrown out of court and declared illegitimate when her mother was repudiated.
The reign of her half-brother Edward VI added to the chaos. Supported by the Spanish Catholics, Mary succeeded in 1553 to Edward while the Protestants opposed her with the anti-queen Jane Grey.
The new Queen was married in 1554 to the future King Philip II of Spain, son of the Emperor Charles V. On this occasion, the newlywed commissioned Jacopo da Trezzo with a medal bearing the portrait of his wife.
Released by the end of that year, it is a superb gold medal 68 mm in diameter weighing more than 150 g. The face is already exhausted by the ordeals of this woman who still believed until her death in 1558, aged 42, that she could become a mother. The reverse shows various symbols of peace and justice at the same time when the religious persecutions were increasing.
Only two pieces are known in gold. The other one is in the British Museum. This scarcity is probably because gold was reserved for presentation to the royals while the upper dignitaries got a similar medal in silver.
I narrated it as follows in 2009.
The sixteenth century was the era of religious wars and the terrible life of Mary Tudor confirms that the real challenge of the fratricidal conflicts was the political domination of Europe.
This daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon had received the best education of her time. She had been promised for marriage to princes of Spain and France but was thrown out of court and declared illegitimate when her mother was repudiated.
The reign of her half-brother Edward VI added to the chaos. Supported by the Spanish Catholics, Mary succeeded in 1553 to Edward while the Protestants opposed her with the anti-queen Jane Grey.
The new Queen was married in 1554 to the future King Philip II of Spain, son of the Emperor Charles V. On this occasion, the newlywed commissioned Jacopo da Trezzo with a medal bearing the portrait of his wife.
Released by the end of that year, it is a superb gold medal 68 mm in diameter weighing more than 150 g. The face is already exhausted by the ordeals of this woman who still believed until her death in 1558, aged 42, that she could become a mother. The reverse shows various symbols of peace and justice at the same time when the religious persecutions were increasing.
Only two pieces are known in gold. The other one is in the British Museum. This scarcity is probably because gold was reserved for presentation to the royals while the upper dignitaries got a similar medal in silver.
1797 The Order of St. Andrew
2012 SOLD 1.73 M€ including premium
The order of St. Andrew was created by Peter the Great in imitation of the English orders. This system enabling to distinguish the members of the Imperial family and the grand courtiers was widely used by the Romanov.
In 1797, the new Tsar Paul I gave its official status to this order, accompanied by some charitable duties. The insignia consisted of a star, a large collar and a jewel constituted by a cross of St Andrew resting on the two-headed eagle under a crown.
On June 20 in Paris, Damien Libert sells a complete set of Knight of the Order of St. Andrew made in the period of the reforms of Paul I. The recipient is not identified but he was certainly a French aristocrat involved in the Russian army or at the court: the name of the fifth duc de Richelieu is advanced in the catalog with a good probability.
The cross and the 23 links of the collar are crafted in gold and enamel. The star is made of silver sequins. The lower estimate is announced by La Gazette Drouot at € 400K and at € 500K by the press release. Let us rather state that it is difficult to predict the price of this very rare complete set.
Only members of the Imperial family could crimp their badges of St. Andrew with precious stones. The cross, also from the time of Paul I, sold £ 2.7 million including premium by Sotheby's on 12 June 2008 was exceptional: it was set with 45 carats of diamonds and the eagle eyes were rubies.
POST SALE COMMENT
This set was worth more than its estimate, of course, and less than the Imperial jewel that I had taken as a reference. The result, € 1.73 million including premium, is very satisfactory.
In 1797, the new Tsar Paul I gave its official status to this order, accompanied by some charitable duties. The insignia consisted of a star, a large collar and a jewel constituted by a cross of St Andrew resting on the two-headed eagle under a crown.
On June 20 in Paris, Damien Libert sells a complete set of Knight of the Order of St. Andrew made in the period of the reforms of Paul I. The recipient is not identified but he was certainly a French aristocrat involved in the Russian army or at the court: the name of the fifth duc de Richelieu is advanced in the catalog with a good probability.
The cross and the 23 links of the collar are crafted in gold and enamel. The star is made of silver sequins. The lower estimate is announced by La Gazette Drouot at € 400K and at € 500K by the press release. Let us rather state that it is difficult to predict the price of this very rare complete set.
Only members of the Imperial family could crimp their badges of St. Andrew with precious stones. The cross, also from the time of Paul I, sold £ 2.7 million including premium by Sotheby's on 12 June 2008 was exceptional: it was set with 45 carats of diamonds and the eagle eyes were rubies.
POST SALE COMMENT
This set was worth more than its estimate, of course, and less than the Imperial jewel that I had taken as a reference. The result, € 1.73 million including premium, is very satisfactory.
>1797 What sort of Badge was worn at the Imperial Court of Russia
2008 SOLD 2.7 M£ including premium
All observers say and assess that what comes from Russia is in the top fashion of the time being, and that greatly interested Russian buyers are keen to reconstitute their past.
We also know that everything coming from imperial origines of all countries make collectors and scholars dreaming.
The brooch (the word used in English by Sotheby's is badge), which is lot 540 of the sale of Sotheby's in London on June 12, comes from the crown jewels of Imperial Russia. In imposing size (13 x 9 cm, 160 grams), its low estimate of 400 K£ is even less surprising when we know that it is covered with 45 carats of diamonds.
Its drawing, very fine, has two bodies: the main part is an eagle with two heads and with wings and tail deployed. This one is partly covered by a cross of St Andrew with the image of the saint. Over it, there is the beautiful image of the imperial crown. All of this is in diamonds except the eyes of the eagle which are rubies and beaks and claws which are gold.
The jewel was made around 1800 as a decoration of the Order of St. Andrew. It was a privilege of the tsar's family to wear this type of decorations in the great occasions of the State. The descent from that piece is known: given by the Imperial family to the ducal family of Oldenburg, it returned in 1890 to Empress Maria Feodorovna, who wore it.
The estimate is very open, with a high estimate at 600 K £. But is there really a price for such a treasure?
POST SALE COMMENT
The treasure has now a price: £ 2.7 million charge included.
It is an excellent result which will refer.
We also know that everything coming from imperial origines of all countries make collectors and scholars dreaming.
The brooch (the word used in English by Sotheby's is badge), which is lot 540 of the sale of Sotheby's in London on June 12, comes from the crown jewels of Imperial Russia. In imposing size (13 x 9 cm, 160 grams), its low estimate of 400 K£ is even less surprising when we know that it is covered with 45 carats of diamonds.
Its drawing, very fine, has two bodies: the main part is an eagle with two heads and with wings and tail deployed. This one is partly covered by a cross of St Andrew with the image of the saint. Over it, there is the beautiful image of the imperial crown. All of this is in diamonds except the eyes of the eagle which are rubies and beaks and claws which are gold.
The jewel was made around 1800 as a decoration of the Order of St. Andrew. It was a privilege of the tsar's family to wear this type of decorations in the great occasions of the State. The descent from that piece is known: given by the Imperial family to the ducal family of Oldenburg, it returned in 1890 to Empress Maria Feodorovna, who wore it.
The estimate is very open, with a high estimate at 600 K £. But is there really a price for such a treasure?
POST SALE COMMENT
The treasure has now a price: £ 2.7 million charge included.
It is an excellent result which will refer.
1839 Daniel Morgan Medal
2022 SOLD for $ 960K by Stack's Bowers
Six gold medals were authorized by the Continental Congress for actions in the American Revolution. Daniel Morgan was one of the recipients for his gallant victory at the battle of Cowpens in 1781.
Morgan's medal was struck in Paris in 1789 and lost in a bank heist in 1818, probably thrown by the fleeing thieves in the Ohio river. The general had died in 1802. His grandson petitioned to get a replacement medal, which was authorized by the US Congress in 1836 and struck in 1839 at the Philadelphia Mint with brand new dies in the configuration of the 1789 design by Augustin Dupré.
The gold medal was presented to Morgan's family in 1841 and went out of public view in 1885. Having just resurfaced, it was sold for $ 960K from a lower estimate of $ 250K by Stack's Bowers on April 4, 2022, lot 1004. Struck in magnificent relief and great sharpness, it is graded SP63 by PCGS and kept in its original case of the US Mint. It is shared in motion by the auction house.
The Congressional gold medal of the future US President William Henry Harrison had been sold for $ 600K by Stack's Bowers on August 19, 2021, lot 5022. It had been authorized by Congress in 1818, struck in 1824 and awarded in 1825. It honored his victory in the 1813 battle of the Thames in the War of 1812.
Morgan's medal was struck in Paris in 1789 and lost in a bank heist in 1818, probably thrown by the fleeing thieves in the Ohio river. The general had died in 1802. His grandson petitioned to get a replacement medal, which was authorized by the US Congress in 1836 and struck in 1839 at the Philadelphia Mint with brand new dies in the configuration of the 1789 design by Augustin Dupré.
The gold medal was presented to Morgan's family in 1841 and went out of public view in 1885. Having just resurfaced, it was sold for $ 960K from a lower estimate of $ 250K by Stack's Bowers on April 4, 2022, lot 1004. Struck in magnificent relief and great sharpness, it is graded SP63 by PCGS and kept in its original case of the US Mint. It is shared in motion by the auction house.
The Congressional gold medal of the future US President William Henry Harrison had been sold for $ 600K by Stack's Bowers on August 19, 2021, lot 5022. It had been authorized by Congress in 1818, struck in 1824 and awarded in 1825. It honored his victory in the 1813 battle of the Thames in the War of 1812.
1913 The Diamonds of the White Eagle
2018 SOLD for € 1.11M including premium
After the Franco-German War of 1870 the two countries strengthen their respective alliances. Russia which has critical needs in industrial development is looking for investors in France. From 1888 to 1914 the Russian loans known as Emprunts Russes are immensely popular with small French savers.
From 1892 military agreements followed this economic cooperation between France and Russia. In 1904 and 1907 Great Britain made alliance with both countries.
Tension is rising in the Balkans and a new step forward would be useful. In August 1913 a delegation led by Général Joffre, supreme head of the French armies, is received by Tsar Nicholas II.
According to the principles of diplomacy this delegation is welcomed with the highest honors. Joffre is decorated with the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky which is the highest Russian men's honor after the Order of St. Andrew.
Joffre's chief deputy for this mission is Général d'Amade. To respect the hierarchical prerogatives, d'Amade receives a distinction slightly inferior to that of Joffre, the Order of the White Eagle, with an additional imperial honor rare at this time for this distinction which consists in crimping the badge and the plaque with a diamond pavement.
These two jewels in gold, silver gilt, diamonds, rubies and enamel are for sale together by Millon in Paris Hôtel Drouot on May 30, lot 424. The press release by Drouot announces an estimate between € 600K and 800K. The 11 cm high badge weighing 140 g is decorated with the two-headed eagle and the imperial crown. The box and ribbon are included in this single lot.
From 1892 military agreements followed this economic cooperation between France and Russia. In 1904 and 1907 Great Britain made alliance with both countries.
Tension is rising in the Balkans and a new step forward would be useful. In August 1913 a delegation led by Général Joffre, supreme head of the French armies, is received by Tsar Nicholas II.
According to the principles of diplomacy this delegation is welcomed with the highest honors. Joffre is decorated with the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky which is the highest Russian men's honor after the Order of St. Andrew.
Joffre's chief deputy for this mission is Général d'Amade. To respect the hierarchical prerogatives, d'Amade receives a distinction slightly inferior to that of Joffre, the Order of the White Eagle, with an additional imperial honor rare at this time for this distinction which consists in crimping the badge and the plaque with a diamond pavement.
These two jewels in gold, silver gilt, diamonds, rubies and enamel are for sale together by Millon in Paris Hôtel Drouot on May 30, lot 424. The press release by Drouot announces an estimate between € 600K and 800K. The 11 cm high badge weighing 140 g is decorated with the two-headed eagle and the imperial crown. The box and ribbon are included in this single lot.
1915 Victoria Cross of Captain Alfred Shout
2006 SOLD for AUD 1M before fees by Bonhams and Goodman
On July 24, 2006, Bonhams and Goodman sold for AUD 1M before fees worth £ 410K including premium at that time the Victoria Cross awarded posthumously to Australian captain Alfred Shout after the battle of Gallipoli in 1915.
1917 Victoria Cross of Vice-Admiral Gordon Campbell
2017 SOLD for £ 840K including premium by Morton and Eden
Morton and Eden are delighted to announce the sale of the Victoria Cross & DSO** Group of 11 to Vice-Admiral Gordon Campbell, sold today for £840,000 (with premium), a new world record for a Victoria Cross at auction. pic.twitter.com/WBWvxE8rbu
— Morton & Eden Ltd (@MortonandEden) November 23, 2017
1936 Olympic Gold for Jesse Owens
2013 SOLD 1.47 M$ including premium
The success of Jesse Owens at the Berlin Olympics in 1936 was not a surprise. Technically, he was one of the best sprinters of all time by a remarkable optimization of movement and an amazing sacrifice of pain during effort.
He won four prestigious events : 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and within 4 x 100 meters team. This grandson of slaves who was born in Alabama became a hero for the whole African-American community and is still now one of the most popular symbols of the Nazi abuse.
On this last point, the reality is surprising. Hitler was willing to admit that Negroes had morphologic features that enabled them to win. Earlier in these games, the Chancellor had only congratulated German athletes. His advisers made him understand that it was a blunder and he therefore decided to stop contacting any winner.
Owens himself declared that Hitler had not been hostile to him. On the opposite, the champion sharply criticized the racial segregation in his own country, which will still go further for 32 years before being abolished.
One of the four gold medals of Jesse Owens is for sale by SCP Auctions. The online auction will close on December 7. It is not known which of his four wins is related to this award. His other three medals are not localized.
I invite you to play the video commented by Darren Rovell for the ESPN specialized sport channel.
POST SALE COMMENT
Very good result for this medal that was outstanding for both sporting feat and political significance: $ 1.47 million including premium.
He won four prestigious events : 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and within 4 x 100 meters team. This grandson of slaves who was born in Alabama became a hero for the whole African-American community and is still now one of the most popular symbols of the Nazi abuse.
On this last point, the reality is surprising. Hitler was willing to admit that Negroes had morphologic features that enabled them to win. Earlier in these games, the Chancellor had only congratulated German athletes. His advisers made him understand that it was a blunder and he therefore decided to stop contacting any winner.
Owens himself declared that Hitler had not been hostile to him. On the opposite, the champion sharply criticized the racial segregation in his own country, which will still go further for 32 years before being abolished.
One of the four gold medals of Jesse Owens is for sale by SCP Auctions. The online auction will close on December 7. It is not known which of his four wins is related to this award. His other three medals are not localized.
I invite you to play the video commented by Darren Rovell for the ESPN specialized sport channel.
POST SALE COMMENT
Very good result for this medal that was outstanding for both sporting feat and political significance: $ 1.47 million including premium.
1945 Victoria Cross of Ted Kenna
2011 SOLD for AUD 1.16M by Noble
Created by Queen Victoria during the Crimean War, the Victoria Cross is considered as the highest military decoration of the Commonwealth. Honoring the bravery facing the enemy, it glorifies the acts of courage of soldiers whatever their rank in the army.
On September 6, 1945, Edward "Ted" Kenna, an Australian soldier aged 26, received this outstanding award for the capture of an enemy position in New Guinea.
According to the will of the hero, his medals are coming at auction. On July 28 in Melbourne, Noble Numismatics sells ten decorations of Kenna including his Victoria Cross, as a single lot estimated Aus $ 900K.
POST SALE COMMENT
Very good result: Aus $ 1 million before fees. Whereas the Victoria Cross is the centerpiece of this set, we can consider that the price obtained in 2006 on the other cross was equaled.
On September 6, 1945, Edward "Ted" Kenna, an Australian soldier aged 26, received this outstanding award for the capture of an enemy position in New Guinea.
According to the will of the hero, his medals are coming at auction. On July 28 in Melbourne, Noble Numismatics sells ten decorations of Kenna including his Victoria Cross, as a single lot estimated Aus $ 900K.
POST SALE COMMENT
Very good result: Aus $ 1 million before fees. Whereas the Victoria Cross is the centerpiece of this set, we can consider that the price obtained in 2006 on the other cross was equaled.
1969 Gold on the Moon
2019 SOLD for $ 2.05M including premium
The tradition of commemorative medallions flown in US space missions begins with the first manned Gemini flight. They were made of pewter or sterling and sometimes gilded. Although the production was not documented, their boxes were marked Fliteline. The mission dates are engraved after the return to earth.
The latest series of Fliteline medallions is for Apollo 1. Eight prototypes had been prepared before the cabin fire. As a tribute to his fallen comrades, Neil Armstrong took a gilt specimen with him to the Apollo 11 LM. Coming from his collection, it was sold for $ 275K including premium by Heritage on November 1, 2018.
When the Apollo program restarted in 1968, NASA reorganized this prestigious operation. The design is generally made by the crew of the related mission. Until Apollo 10 the shape is free. The production is entrusted to Robbins Company, a supplier of badges for the FBI and of Olympic medals.
The sterling silver medallions are now serialized, probably because NASA fears that astronauts will derive a personal profit detrimental to its reputation. A few 14K gold medallions are added for the personal collections of the astronauts.
For Apollo 11 in 1969, the drawing is prepared by Michael Collins. Robbins makes 450 silver sterling medallions that are all mission flown except for 10 that had been lost, plus 3 gold medallions, one for each astronaut.
The gold medallion awarded to Neil Armstrong followed him in the Lunar Module Eagle. Coming from his collection and graded MS 67 by NGC, it will be sold on July 16 in Dallas by Heritage, lot 50067 with an opening bid of $ 250K without reserve price. Please watch the video shared by NGC.
Collins's eagle ready to land in a plain of craters under earth light will be re-used for the federal coin of $ 1 between 1971 and 1978.
The scandal of Apollo 15 did not come from medallions but from philatelic envelopes.
The latest series of Fliteline medallions is for Apollo 1. Eight prototypes had been prepared before the cabin fire. As a tribute to his fallen comrades, Neil Armstrong took a gilt specimen with him to the Apollo 11 LM. Coming from his collection, it was sold for $ 275K including premium by Heritage on November 1, 2018.
When the Apollo program restarted in 1968, NASA reorganized this prestigious operation. The design is generally made by the crew of the related mission. Until Apollo 10 the shape is free. The production is entrusted to Robbins Company, a supplier of badges for the FBI and of Olympic medals.
The sterling silver medallions are now serialized, probably because NASA fears that astronauts will derive a personal profit detrimental to its reputation. A few 14K gold medallions are added for the personal collections of the astronauts.
For Apollo 11 in 1969, the drawing is prepared by Michael Collins. Robbins makes 450 silver sterling medallions that are all mission flown except for 10 that had been lost, plus 3 gold medallions, one for each astronaut.
The gold medallion awarded to Neil Armstrong followed him in the Lunar Module Eagle. Coming from his collection and graded MS 67 by NGC, it will be sold on July 16 in Dallas by Heritage, lot 50067 with an opening bid of $ 250K without reserve price. Please watch the video shared by NGC.
Collins's eagle ready to land in a plain of craters under earth light will be re-used for the federal coin of $ 1 between 1971 and 1978.
The scandal of Apollo 15 did not come from medallions but from philatelic envelopes.
