The Emergence of the Russian Empire -- A Series of Commemorative Medals from the 19th Century

CNG 87, Lot: 2180. Estimate $750. Sold for $1900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

RUSSIA, Tsardom of Rus. Aleksey Mikhailovich Romanov, with Natalia Kirillovna Naryshkina. 1645-1676. Æ Medal (68mm, 99.25 g, 12h). Commemorating the Birth of Tsarevich Petr Alexeyevich. By S. Judin. Dated 1672 in Roman numerals. )( ALEXIVS MICHAELIS FILIVS D. G. TZAR ET MAGNVS DVX TOTIVS RVSSIÆ )(, jugate half-length draped busts of Aleksey, wearing tiara and holding double-eagle-tipped scepter and orb, and Natalia, wearing diadem, right / SPES MAGNA FVTVRI (there is great hope for the future), winged Glory seated right among the clouds, with star over head and presenting the Tsarevich to Russia seated left; to right, scroll bearing coat-of-arms; in three lines in exergue, PETRVS ALIXII FILIUS/NATUS 30 MAII/MDCLXXII Petr, son of Aleksey, born on the 30th of May in the year 1672). Moneta 60, 2; Iversen series I, p. 1. Superb EF, attractive brown surfaces.

The Great Northern War, chiefly fought between the Tsardom of Russia and the Kingdom of Sweden from 1700 to 1721, resulted in Russian dominance of the Baltic and the creation of the Russian Empire, a regional power which would continue to expand for nearly two centuries. During the latter part of the 16th century and throughout the 17th century, Sweden emerged as the dominant force in the Baltic, holding lands in Norway, the area around the Gulf of Finland, and down the coast as far as Germany. Having been deprived of access to the Baltic Sea after the Treaty of Stolbovo in 1617, Russia languished until the reign of Petr I ‘the Great,’ who made it a goal to renew the greatness of Russia by way of sea.

The initial skirmishes of the war centered around the allies of the two main powers, with attacks by the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway on the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, and by the Electorate of Saxony on the Dominion of Livonia. These early engagements brought Sweden, followed quickly thereafter by Russia, into the picture, with their first head-to-head encounter at the First Battle of Narva, a decisive victory for King Karl XII and his Swedish army. While Sweden’s attention then moved southward to Saxony’s exploits, Russia was free to recover her former territories in the Baltic provinces. Victories at Erastfer and Nöteborg (Shlisselburg) resulted in access to the region of Ingria, where Petr commenced the building of his namesake city and maritime stronghold, Sankt-Petrburg (St. Petersburg).

Satisfied with his foothold in the Baltic, Petr offered to retrocede everything gained thus far, excepting his naval pathway—an offer which Karl refused. The goal of Sweden then shifted to capturing the heart of Russia herself at Moskva. This attempt proved fruitless however, as successive Russian victories at Lesnaya and Poltava drove Karl to the protection of the Ottoman Empire. In the king’s absence, Petr continued his advancements in the Baltic, refining his navy and capturing Riga and Tallinn, as well as increasing his anti-Swedish alliance with other regional powers. Karl returned to Sweden in 1714 from his enclave in Moldova, only to suffer further defeats at Stralsund and Wismar, ending Swedish rule in Germany and the Baltic provinces. Left with a depleting source of allies, Karl turned to the Jacobite pretender and their supporters, resulting in Great Britain’s involvement against Sweden as well. In a final blow to the latter, King Karl was felled at the Battle of Fredriksten in 1718. Though the war would continue nominally for three more years, the outcome was sealed with Karl’s death, and arguably, even earlier after his failed attempt to invade Russia.

Numerous medals were struck to commemorate these various events, as well as of Petr the Great himself. The following group focuses on the first half of the war and comes from a larger series made from the mid-late 18th century by some of the more prominent European medalists of the time. While many employ similar obverses, the reverses act as an artistic testament to military strategy, commemorating Russia’s rise from an isolated northern tsardom to a trans-continental empire.