149 - CORONATION MEDAL OF EMPEROR PAUL I. OFFICIAL NOVODEL STRIKE OF THE ST PETERSBURG MINT RUSSIA, ORIGINAL TYPE 1797, OFFICIAL RESTRIKE OF THE 19TH CENTURY.

CORONATION MEDAL OF EMPEROR PAUL I. OFFICIAL NOVODEL STRIKE OF THE ST PETERSBURG MINT RUSSIA, ORIGINAL TYPE 1797, OFFICIAL RESTRIKE OF THE 19TH CENTURY. An outstanding monument of Russian coronation numismatics - the gold medal “In Commemoration of the Coronation of Emperor Paul I”, struck from the original dies of the Saint Petersburg Mint. The present specimen belongs to the category of official novodel restrikes of the nineteenth century, produced by the Mint from authentic or carefully restored eighteenth century dies and intended for imperial collections and the most distinguished cabinets of collectors. The obverse bears the right facing bust of Emperor Paul I (1796 - 1801) in uniform with the sash of the Order of Saint Andrew the First Called and the badge of the Order of Saint Anne. The surrounding legend reads: “By the Grace of God Paul I Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias.” Beneath the truncation of the bust appears the signature “S.M.E.” identifying the medallist Karl Ivanovich Meisner (1774 - 1815), a pupil of Karl Leberecht and one of the leading masters of the Saint Petersburg medallic school of the late eighteenth century. The portrait is distinguished by refined plastic modelling and the academic severity characteristic of the official coronation series of 1797. The reverse is austere and conceptually powerful, displaying at its centre a large equal armed cross with fine linear hatching and a concentric square within the central field. This iconographic device reflects the religious and chivalric programme of Paul I and relates directly to his role as Grand Master of the Order of Malta. The restrained composition of the reverse underscores the idea of the sacred legitimisation of monarchical authority. The present example is encapsulated by PCGS and graded SP62, confirming its status as a Specimen strike and its high level of preservation. According to the standard references Diakov 243 and Bitkin M226, this type ranks among the key masterpieces of the medallic art of the reign of Paul I and holds particular significance for advanced collections of Russian coronation medals. Hallmarks: Medallist’s signature “S.M.E.” beneath the bust; Latin form Carl Meisner Fecit. Dimensions: Diameter 3.8 cm. Weight: 21.5 g. Gold, 18 carat. Condition: Good. Sharp relief with minor contact marks and light hairlines; characteristic die defects present. Certified PCGS SP62. Provenance: European private collection. Width: 3.8cm, Height: 3.8cm, Depth: 0.1cm, Weight: 0.021kg, Condition: Very good, Material: Gold, ID: ID-ANTQ-16368