Russia, Imperial. A 1763 Medal for the Establishment of the Foundling Home in St. Petersburg

Constructed of bronze, the obverse bearing a raised and rightward-facing bust of Empress Catherine II (“the Great”), circumscribed by name and title in Cyrillic, the reverse bearing a central raised depiction of a female figure wielding a cross (symbolizing mercy) reaching out to a destitute woman and child, set against a backdrop of St. Petersburg, topped by an inscription of “AND YOU WILL LIVE” and set above a date of 1 September 1763 in Cyrillic, the obverse engraver marked “ТИМОФЕИ ЇВАНОВЪ” (“TIMOFEI IVANOV”), measuring 51.90 mm in diameter, demonstrating a slight patina and minor edge knocks, in near extremely fine condition.