Russia (Estonia / France) Silver Medal 1950 - Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Life Guards and the Battle of Narva, 1700-1950

97.90g. Silver 0.950. 59mm. UNC/UNC. 

Paris mint. Marks on the edge: "1ARGENT", cornucopia. 

By the Society of Lovers of the Russian military past (Russian Émigrés in Exile). 

Very rare in silver. 

Obv.: Obv.: Bust of Peter I right, in wig, armour, and ermine mantle; below in the truncation, signature DU VIVIER F. 

Inscription around: 

PETRUS ALEXIEWITZ TZAR MAG. RUSS. IMP 

(Peter Alexeyevich, Tsar, Great Emperor of Russia). 

Rev.: In the centre, a seven-line Cyrillic inscription. 

Inscription: 

1700 

22 августа 

основание 

Лейб-Гвардии. 

Нарва 

19 ноября 1700. 

1950 

(1700 / 22 August / Foundation of the Life Guards / Narva / 19 November 1700 / 1950). 

On March 3, 1946, under the guidance of P.V. Pashkov and A.A. Stakhovich, the Circle of Amateurs of the Russian Military Past was established in Asnières, near Paris. Initially, it comprised twelve members residing in or around Paris. At its peak, the membership expanded to approximately 300 individuals spread across various countries where émigrés had settled. The Circle catered not only to those interested in military artifacts but also to numismatists, postcard collectors, exlibrists, and other experts in related fields. In 1952, its name was updated to the Society of Amateurs of the Russian Military Past, and during the 1960s, it was renamed again to The Society of Those Who Cherish the Russian Military Past.

The medal marks the 250th anniversary of two events closely associated with the early military reforms of Peter I: the foundation of the Life Guards on 22 August 1700 and the Battle of Narva on 19 November 1700. The Guards regiments, created at the beginning of the Great Northern War, became the nucleus of Peter’s new regular army and later played a central role in the military and political history of the Russian Empire. Although the Russian army suffered a severe defeat at Narva (modern Narva, Estonia) in 1700, the campaign became an important lesson for Peter’s military transformation, which in the following years led to the creation of a more effective army and to Russia’s eventual rise as a major Baltic power.