Do I have an interesting coin/commemerative coin from Russia?

[Gary of NYC-migration]

Hi all;

 

I have an old coin that dates to 1864. I would really like to know its origin and value!

 

Thank you!

 

Here is a link--the two sides of the coin are pictured--its obvious which ones they are...

 

 

http://garynyc.buzznet.com/user/

[Hoot]

[Gary of NYC-migration]

Thanks!

[Gary of NYC-migration]

Anyone?

[JamminJ]

It looks like a medal of some sort to me. Unfortunately, I know nothing about medals.

 

-JamminJ

[truthteller]

Appears to be a Russian copper commemorative medal. The language is Russian Cyrillic, which I don't read, but merely conjecture. Russian Czar Alexander III and wife, with possibly the three daughters.

 

Here's some history:

 

Alexander was the second son of Alexander II. His father was noted for his reforms. He abolished serfdom, though the emancipation didn't in fact bring on any significant change in the condition of the peasants. The action earned him the title of "The Liberator". As the country became more industrialized, its political system experienced even greater strain. Attempts by the lower classes to gain more freedom provoked fears of anarchy, and the government remained extremely conservative. As Russia became more industrialized, larger, and far more complicated, the inadequacies of autocratic Tsarist rule became increasingly apparent. By the 20th Century conditions were ripe for a serious convulsion. At the same time, Russia had expanded its territory and its power considerably over the 19th century. Its borders extended to Afghanistan and China, and it had acquired extensive territory on the Pacific coast. The foundation of the port cities of Vladivostok and Port Arthur there had opened up profitable avenues for commerce, and the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway (constructed from 1891-1905) linked the European Russia with its new eastern territories. Alexander II in 1841 married Maria of Hessen-Darmstadt (Maria Alexandrovna). The royal couple had seven seven children. He was mortally wounded on March 1, 1881, when a student, I. Grinevitskii who belonged to the revolutionary organization "The National Will", threw a bomb. A cathedral was erected on the site of the murder. Alexander II was buried in the Cathedral of the St. Peter and St. Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

 

 

Mother

Alexander II in 1841 as Tsareivitch or Crown Prince married Maria of Hessen-Darmstadt (Maria Alexandrovna). Her father was Grand Duke Louis II of the Rhine Hesse (1777- ). Her mother was Princess Wilhelmina of Baden (1788- ).

 

 

Siblings

The royal couple had seven eight children. The eldest was Alexandra Alexandrovna (1842-49), but she died as a small child. Nicholas Alexandrovich was the Grand Prince Thronfolger (1843-65), but died of tuberculosis as a young man. Alexander Alexandrovich (1845- ) as a result of the death of his elder brother became Tsar Alexander III. The other children were: Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovitch (1847- ), Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovich (1850- ), Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna (1853- ), Grand Duke Serge Alexandrovich (1857- ), and Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich (1860- ).

[spiny]

I'm going with a medal to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Smolny Institute for Noble Girls which was ordered by Catherine II on May 5 1764. It looks like the Smolny Cathedral in the background. I'm not sure, though. I just pieced this together from google searches.