Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Type III, Civil Division, Cross (in "black enamels")

CATEGORY: Version

SKU: 01.RUS.0105.101.01.004

Estimated market value:

$20,000 USD

  • Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Type III, Civil Division, Cross (in black enamels)

Estimated market value:

$20,000 USD

Attributes

  • Country
    Russia
  • Composition
    Gold/Enamelled
  • Version Remarks
    Estimated by Andreas Thies for €4,500 in October 2007. Crosses in "black enamel" (often very dark red or seldom dark blue enamel) were non-official (private purchase) insignia available to the recipients, popular and fashionable ca.1860-1880. A very rare award.

Physical Description and Item Details


Sash badge, gold and enamels. No sash. The loop with gold mark “56” and maker’s mark. Black enamels. One Eagle loose.

History


Conceived as a purely military order by Peter the Great, this Order was never awarded during the Czar's lifetime. Empress Catherine I began to award the Order after her husband's death, although she did not award it solely for military pursuits. The USSR adopted this Order and secularized it.

This Order could be awarded, at the sovereign's discretion, with diamonds to a particularly deserving individual. The badge could be worn on the left hip.

There were many variations of this badge, including a non-Christian version with the Russian Imperial Eagle in the centre, as opposed to a likeness of the saint. Saint Alexander Nevsky may be facing either the left or right.

The badge can either be surmounted by a small crown, a large red crown or a large golden crown.

The versions with red glass are an earlier model of the Order, and the versions with swords are awarded for military merit.

This Order has been awarded approximately 3,750 times since its inception in 1724.

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