Serbia Bronze Medal 1889 - 500th Anniversary of the Kosovo Pole Battle against Ottoman Empire

29.29g. 41mm. AU/AU. Small scratch on edge. Medalier: Михаил Валтрович (Михаил Валтровић). Rare. 

Obv.: The Serbian double-headed eagle is depicted holding a sword and an Orthodox cross, with the royal coat of arms on its chest. Below the eagle is the Žiča Monastery, illuminated by a rising sun. Below, the date '1889' is inscribed, and above, the inscription: ОБНОВЉЕНА СРБИЈА (Renewed Serbia); 

Rev.: A crown rests on weapons against the backdrop of a setting sun. Below, the date '1389' is inscribed, and above, the inscription: ПОМЕНУ ВИДОВА ДАНА (In Remembrance of St. Vitus' Day). 

The Vidovdan Commemorative Medal was sold by the Society of Saint Sava on June 15 (June 28 in the Gregorian calendar) in Kruševac, following a liturgy and memorial service for the Kosovo Heroes held at Lazarica (Church of the Holy First Martyr Stephen). The event was attended by King Alexander Obrenović, accompanied by the Regent, members of the government, the State Council, the National Assembly (Skupština), bishops, and directors of the Lazarus, Milica, and Stefan funds. 

On the same day, the foundation stone for the Kosovo Heroes Monument was laid in Kruševac. The monument's foundation included a note on parchment, coins, a book of Kosovo poems, and a Vidovdan Commemorative Medal (Spomenica in Serbian). 

The medal’s design was created by Mihailo Valtrović, an architect, the first professor of archaeology at the University of Belgrade, and curator of the National Museum of Serbia. Valtrović used a symbolic visual language to evoke powerful historical memories. Inspired by his colleague and friend Dragutin Milutinović, Valtrović sought to capture the essence of Serbian medieval greatness through the broken symbols of power: a crown, sword, and scepter. 

The dome-shaped crown was modeled after the crowns worn by Serbian kings from the late 13th century, as seen in portraits of King Stefan the First-Crowned and King Radoslav in the Žiča Tower. Valtrović, a connoisseur of Serbian medieval art, was simultaneously working on the design of the Order of Saint Prince Lazarus, which also incorporated this dome-shaped crown in the central segment of the order's chain. 

The medal symbolizes the enduring legacy of the Battle of Kosovo and the deep reverence for the Serbian medieval past. The commemoration marked 500 years since the pivotal event of 1389, where Serbia's fate was sealed, and its people’s resilience was forever etched in history. The Vidovdan Commemorative Medal became not only a keepsake but also a tribute to Serbian heritage and cultural identity.