The featured medal "For Suppressing the Polish Uprising 1863-1864" (Russian: "За усмирение польского мятежа 1863-1864") was established in 1865 by Tsar Alexander II and was awarded to Russian soldiers and administrative officials for their participation in suppressing the January Uprising - the largest Polish independence uprising against the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
The obverse features the coat of arms of the Russian Empire - a two-headed crowned eagle, with the insignia of power and the coats of arms of the lands comprising the empire. The reverse contains an inscription in Russian: "За усмирение польского мятежа" and the years 1863-1864, commemorating the period of fighting.
The medal was awarded in two variants: light bronze was given to military men of all ranks from general to private, soldiers of the border guards, Petro-Russian Cossack regiments of the Chernihiv and Poltava governorates, the horse militia of the Dyneburg and Rzhevsk uyezd regions, medics, military chaplains who took part in the fights with the insurgents in 1863-1864; the medal was also given to peasants who fought with arms in hand. Since 1877, it was also given to servicemen of all ranks of the Russian Navy who were on ships off the coast of Courland during the uprising.
The decoration, made of dark bronze, was awarded to civilian and military officials who served in the Kingdom of Poland and the Western Territory in 1863-1864, who did not take part in the fighting, but by their actions assisted in suppressing the uprising; it was also awarded to other citizens who assisted the Russian administration and military.
The piece on display is a private commissioned piece in silver (not hallmarked), gilded (corresponds to the bright bronze version) probably for a senior officer. The piece is preserved in very good condition, visible in the photos. The medal is suspended from the original ribbon in white, orange and black colors.
Diameter: 28mm.
Weight with ribbon: 13g.
Overall condition as shown in the photos.
