Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Type III, Civil Division, Cross (in gold)
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 01.RUS.0105.101.01.000
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Russia, Imperial. An Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Badge of the Order, by J.Keibel,1867
(Орден Святого Александра). Instituted 21 May 1725 by Catherine I. In Gold, consisting of a Maltese Cross with exquisite red enamels, with finely detailed Romanov imperial eagles in each quadrant, obverse bearing a central applique with an expertly hand-painted depiction of Alexander Nevsky mounted on a white horse, inside a stylized, hand etched Gold ring, reverse with central applique consisting of a white enameled medallion bearing a hand-painted monogram of Alexander Nevsky, inside a Gold ring, on an elongated Gold loop, reverse six o’clock arm of the cross bears Cyrillic initials “ІК” for maker Julius Keibel while the twelve o’clock arm bears a Romanov royal warrant, reverse integral ring stamped with a Gold zolotnik mark of “56” and a date of “1867”, measuring 54.35 mm (w) x 60.31 mm (h), weighing 31.6 grams, on period red silk sash, slight loosening of obverse applique, otherwise better than extremely fine.
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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