Russia Silver Award Medal 1794 (1796) - For labour and bravery during the capture of Praga (suburb of Warsaw) - Catherine II the Great (1762-1796)

A well-preserved specimen with minor metal delamination. Light wear consistent with awarded medals. 

Medalier: unknown. 

Mintage is only 7692 pcs. (As of June 1804, 2,992 medals remained undistributed in the archives of the Military Collegium). 

Diakov 235.2 Ar - R3; Bitkin (medals) 358 - R3; Hutten-Czapski 3363 R3. 

The following sales of similar medals are known:

25.05.2024 – Monety i Medali #158 (live auction): 22,657 EUR+BP. 

27.05.2023 – Monety i Medali #151 (live auction): 15,130 EUR+BP – suspension loop missing. 

14.11.2009 – Auction house "Znak" #8 (live auction): 22,145 EUR+BP – suspension loop reattached. 

Retains original suspension loop, often missing on surviving specimens. Following the death of recipients, medals were returned to the Military Collegium and subsequently melted down. Together with the originally low number issued, this has resulted in very few examples surviving to the present day. 

Obv.: Imperial monogram of Empress Catherine II beneath the imperial crown. 

Е І І 

Rev.: Seven-line inscription. 

ЗА 

ТРУДЫ 

И 

ХРАБРОСТЬ 

ПРИ ВЗЯТЬЕ 

ПРАГИ 

ОКТЯБРЯ 24 1794 Г. 

(For labour and bravery in the capture of Praga, October 24, 1794.) 

This silver lozenge-shaped medal was awarded to enlisted men for distinction in the assault on the suburb of Praga near Warsaw on October 24, 1794. The award was not limited to direct participants in the storming of Praga but also extended to soldiers who had taken part in other military engagements during the Polish campaign. 

The storming of Praga was led by General Alexander Suvorov and resulted in a decisive Russian victory. On October 24, Russian forces broke through the fortified suburb, overwhelming Polish defenders under General Józef Zajączek. The assault was swift and brutal, driven by vengeance for previous massacres of Russian troops. Polish casualties reached approximately 20,000, including 11,000 prisoners, while Russian losses numbered around 1,500. The fall of Praga led to the surrender of Warsaw and marked the end of the Kościuszko Uprising. For this victory, Suvorov was promoted to Field Marshal by Empress Catherine II.