Treaty of Malka-Kaynardzha

269, Lot: 577. Estimate $500. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

RUSSIA, Empire. Ekaterina II Velikaya (the Great), with Abdülhamid I. 1762-1796. Tin Medal (43mm, 16.75 g, 12h). Commemorating the Treaty of Malka-Kaynardzha (Küçük Kaynarca). Dated 1774. Ekaterina and Abdülhamid on horseback trotting toward one another, clasping hands and holding reins; above, crowned imperial double eagle and star-in-crescent, respectively; in three lines in exergue, zwey • haende • bringen • de/ftreitt • zu • ende Ղ/ՁᾫᾱᾱᾮՂ (two hands bring an end to the turmoil) / (lis) O freude/Wenn der · Heldenn/Krafft so vierler länder/Wohlfart schafft Ihr/Güft u=Himelfcher (lis)/Verftand ift · Von/Der · gantzen welt/(lis) Erkand (lis)/(lis) 1774 (lis) in nine lines. Schulman, Pax, 618. VF, lightly toned, pierced. Rare.

The Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774 grew out of the internal strife in Poland, during which Russia was a supporter of King Stanislaus Augustus. During a pursuit of a Polish Bar Confederation (force of nobility) into Ottoman territory, a group of Cossacks in Russian service allegedly involved some subjects of the town in their rampage, inciting the Ottoman Empire into action against Russia. Ultimately, however, the latter’s dominance of the seas provided her numerous victories in the conflict. With the Treaty of Malka-Kaynardzha (Küçük Kaynarca), Russia received the unofficial governance of the Crimean Khanate, a large sum of war reparations, and two important seaports allowing direct access to the Black Sea.