Russia (Finland) Tin-Alloy Medal 1710 (2nd half 18th c.) - Capture of Vyborg, 12 June 1710 - Peter I (1682–1725)

28.57g. 48mm. UNC/UNC. Marvelous brilliant icy mint frost specimen with mirror shine. 

St. Petersburg mint. 

Medalier: S. Yudin (С • Ю • on obverse truncation). 

Diakov 31.7 (Ar - R1). 

Tin-lead alloy medals are rarely found in excellent condition, as the metal is prone to oxidation and easily susceptible to mechanical damage. Medals with an obverse by Samoylo Yudin are encountered significantly less frequently than those by Timofey Ivanov. No auction records are known for the Capture of Vyborg medal with Yudin’s portrait. 

Obv.: Bust of Peter I right, in laurel wreath; in scale armour. 

Inscription around: 

PETRVS • ALEXEEWITZ • M • D • TZAR • M • D • MOSCOV .

(Peter, son of Alexis, by the grace of God Tsar of Russia, Grand Duke of Moscow). 

Rev.: Chronogram 1710. Above the plan of the siege of Vyborg, an eagle in flight pursues a crane.

Inscription around: 

OCCVᴘᴀᴛ ᴀVDᴇɴᴛᴇM • oᴠıᴅ • 

(He seizes the daring one — Ovid). 

In exergue: 

WIBVRGVM EXPVG • | D • 14 • IVN • S • V • 

(Vyborg taken on 14 June [Old Style]). 

The capture of Vyborg in June 1710 was a major success of Russia over Sweden during the Great Northern War. After a prolonged siege, the Swedish garrison capitulated, securing control over a key fortress in Karelia. The fall of Vyborg significantly weakened Sweden’s defensive system in the eastern Baltic and strengthened Russian positions in the region. The city later formed part of the Grand Duchy of Finland within the Russian Empire.