Watch List notes:

RUSSIA. Capture of Three Swedish Frigates Gold Medal, 1719. Peter I (The Great). NGC AU-55.
45mm; 69.12 gms. Dia-55.5 (R4). By O. Kalashnikov. Commemorating the capture of three Swedish frigates on May 24, 1719. Obverse: Laureate, draped, and armored bust right; Reverse: Naval battle scene, with numerous Russian and Swedish ships clashing with one another. A well struck and INCREDIBLY RARE medal with abundant remaining luster, medium golden tone, and great detail on the bust and naval battle scene. A few stray hairlines and light marks appear in the obverse fields, but do not detract from its majesty and allure.

This medal was decreed by Peter I himself as a set of 67 such pieces of different weights and sizes, and awarded to officers who took part in the battle. The victory occurred during the summer campaign of 1719, when Russian ships and troops sailed from Finland to attack the Swedish coast. The expedition was led by General-Admiral Fyodor Apraksin, who had been charged with conducting military actions against the Swedes during the period 1710-1720, and had been appointed governor of Estonia and other conquered provinces at this time. During the battle in question, the Russians caught the Swedish ships by surprise near the island of Saaremaa (Osel). It was the first Russian naval victory that did not involve ramming or boarding.

This wonderful specimen purportedly emanates from the collection of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Romanov, second cousin to Czar Nicholas II, cousin to Alexander III, nephew to Alexander II, and grandson to Nicholas I. The Grand Duke was executed by the Bolsheviks in 1917 and his collection was smuggled out of Russia by the Russian White Army. It was meant to be auctioned in Switzerland in 1939 by the auction firm of A. Hess, but this sale was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II, many of the contents eventually being transferred to England and sold by Christie's in 1950. The US dealer Jack Klausen attended this auction and bought a large portion of the gold medals, some of which were subsequently sold off and the balance ended up in the Superior Moreira Auction, Part II (December 1988).

Ex: Bonham's (6/2015) Lot # 1109.

Ex: Tsarina Collection (Bonham's - 12/2010) Lot # 1011.

Ex: Spink Taisei (10/1992) Lot # 326.

Ex: Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Collection (purportedly)

Estimate: $80000.00- $100000.00