Just picked this thing up on eBay and I'm not sure what it is exactly. If anyone recognizes it i would greatly appreciate the help. All I know is it's Russian...
I have no idea what it's for, but it says: ЗА НАКИТЪ Б.П. 1905 МЕСИНГОВЪ ПЕНДАРЪ АЛЕКСАНДЪРЪ II РУСКИ ИМПЕРАТОРЪ For Nakit B.P. 1905 brass pendant Alexander II, Russian Emperor BP Nakit was presumably the owner. I'm not sure it's even a medal. But Alexander II wasn't tsar in 1905.
Uhhhh guys, that's Franz Joseph I of Austria. And he's on lots and lots of coins and medals. Like these - https://www.ebay.com/i/114575047255...MIzNGo16fB7gIVDdvACh2ZQACvEAYYAiABEgLQN_D_BwE
Can't figure it out, Thought at first the image had been flipped in post processing, but as far as I know Franz always faces right
Lettering definitely looks Russian. I think it is correctly oriented as the date (1905) reads correctly. It's also definitely a portrait of ole Franz Joseph I. Z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Joseph_I_of_Austria Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (German: Franz Josef Karl; 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia, and monarch of other states of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, from 2 December 1848 until his death.[1] From 1 May 1850 to 24 August 1866 he was also President of the German Confederation. He was the longest-reigning ruler of Austria and Hungary, as well as the sixth-longest-reigning monarch of any country in European history.[2] His rule extended over a pretty wide territory, some of which was probably under Russian control about the time of the minting of that coin. And it is a coin, not a medal. Just don't know it's provenance just yet. Z More on the extent of his reign: His official grand title after the Ausgleich of 1867 was: "Francis Joseph the First, by the Grace of God Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, King of Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia and Lodomeria and Illyria; King of Jerusalem etc., Archduke of Austria; Grand Duke of Tuscany and Cracow, Duke of Lorraine, of Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and of Bukovina; Grand Prince of Transylvania; Margrave of Moravia; Duke of Upper and Lower Silesia, of Modena, Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, of Oświęcim, Zator and Ćeszyn, Friuli, Ragusa (Dubrovnik) and Zara (Zadar); Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Gorizia and Gradisca; Prince of Trent (Trento) and Brixen; Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia and in Istria; Count of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, etc.; Lord of Trieste, of Cattaro (Kotor), and over the Windic march; Grand Voivode of the Voivodship of Serbia."[52]
All the coins shown by you and anyone else are no match to the coin in question.. But it clearly stated 1905 and (6X).. Post #3 Gives a Translation which states Alexander II I know it's not Alexander but why does it say it?
It is 100% Russian, as per my translation above. It is not backwards or upside down. But the mixing of Russian, a Russian tsar (from a previous era) and an Austrian monarch makes me think it isn't official...not a coin or a medal. Perhaps jewellery?
Some Russian decorations attributed to him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_St._Andrew https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Saint_Alexander_Nevsky https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_White_Eagle_(Russian_Empire) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Saint_Anna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_St._George
I appreciate the help guys I just wanted to add it has a reeded edge. Seems odd if it were originally to be used as jewelry, unless it was made to have a random hole in it. And I have to say I see the resemblance in Joseph but keep in mind Alexander II also had some fat chops and a mustache haha. I’m going to assume so far that this was some form of commemoration medal made by a third party org for whatever reason. My only remaining question is why would they add (6X) if it wasn't going to be currency? Was Russia having trouble making enough money during these times?
I did some googling and it turns out, this kind of tokens were made in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian text МЕСИНГОВЪ ПЕНДАРЪ ЗА НАКИТЪ (mesingov pendar za nakit) means BRASS TOKEN FOR JEWLERY (or decoration) Б.П. is the master initials. Pendar is some kind of generalized term for coin, and it originates from greek language - πεντάρα or πέντε - meaning "five" (if i understood it correctly). And it looks like these were used in weddings. Anyway, if somebody is more interested, then it should be solid starting point for further investigations. Happy googling!