France (Russia) Bronze Medal 1955 (1978) – In Memory of the Centenary of the Defense of Sevastopol – Society of Lovers of Russian Military Antiquity.

92.14g. 60mm. UNC/UNC. 

Medalier: Daniel Flourat (after the design by N.V. Zaretsky; unsigned). 

Paris Mint (horn of plenty mintmark and BRONZE on edge). 

Obv.: Imperial Russian eagle in the style of the obverse by medalist Kuchkin from the series of medals commemorating the Russo-Persian and Russo-Turkish Wars of 1826–1829; around the edge, commemorative inscription; below — name of the issuing society. 

Inscription around: 

В ПАМЯТЬ СТОЛЕТИЯ ДОСЛАВНОЙ ОБОРОНЫ СЕВАСТОПОЛЯ 

(In memory of the centenary of the glorious defense of Sevastopol). 

Below: 

ОБ-ВО ЛЮБ. РУССКОЙ ВОЕННОЙ СТАРИНЫ 

(Society of Lovers of Russian Military Antiquity). 

Rev.: Nine-line inscription in French and English, commemorating the 349 days of the siege of Sevastopol. 

Inscription in field: 

A LA MEMOIRE | DES 349 | GLORIEUSES JOURNEES | DE LA DEFENSE | DE SEBASTOPOL | IN MEMORY | OF THE 349 | GLORIOUS DAYS | OF THE DEFENCE OF SEBASTOPOL | 1855–1955 

(In memory of the 349 glorious days of the defense of Sevastopol). 

This medal was issued in Paris in 1955 by the Society of Lovers of Russian Military Antiquity, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the heroic defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. Struck in 1978 at the Paris Mint, it was designed by N.V. Zaretsky and engraved by Daniel Flourat. The defense of Sevastopol (1854–1855) was one of the key episodes of the Crimean War, symbolizing Russian military valor and endurance against a coalition of Western powers.