A memorial medal from the collection of the museum was cast by the Geographic Society of the USSR for 150th anniversary of the birth of Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky. It was handed out to the participants of the celebration dedicated to the scientist’s anniversary.
The obverse of the medal fully repeats the insignia, which the Geographic Society used in the 19th century. The silver and gold medals of Pyotr Semyonov, used as a model, were established in 1898 on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his tenure as vice-chairman of the society. They served as a symbol of “promotion of the works of primarily Russian travelers and scientists on the geographical, in the broad sense of the word, study of Russia, neighboring countries, as well as those from more distant countries related to Russia.”
In Soviet times the work of the Russian Geographic Society changed. The organization focused on relatively small regional researches and theoretical generalizations. At this time the geography of its branches has increased substantially. By 1980, there were 18 subsidiaries apart from the central branch in Leningrad.
In 1930, all awards discontinued. Only 16 years later, on the centennial anniversary of Geographic Society, they restored the awarding and presenting medals named after Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky.
The medal has since been awarded for geographical descriptions of large parts of Russia and other countries, based on their own observations and containing independent views and conclusions, and essays on topical issues and the history of geographical studies and discoveries.
The medal has a regular circle shape with a convex rim on both sides. The obverse of the medal centers a relief portrait of Pyotr Semyonov -Tyan-Shansky, and on the circumference from left to right there is the relief inscription “Pyotr Petrovich Semyonov “. On the reverse of the medal there is the relief inscription “from the Russian Geographic Society”. The inscription is framed with a relief laurel wreath on the inner side. In the lower part are the words in two lines “Founded in 1845”.
The obverse of the medal fully repeats the insignia, which the Geographic Society used in the 19th century. The silver and gold medals of Pyotr Semyonov, used as a model, were established in 1898 on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his tenure as vice-chairman of the society. They served as a symbol of “promotion of the works of primarily Russian travelers and scientists on the geographical, in the broad sense of the word, study of Russia, neighboring countries, as well as those from more distant countries related to Russia.”
In Soviet times the work of the Russian Geographic Society changed. The organization focused on relatively small regional researches and theoretical generalizations. At this time the geography of its branches has increased substantially. By 1980, there were 18 subsidiaries apart from the central branch in Leningrad.
In 1930, all awards discontinued. Only 16 years later, on the centennial anniversary of Geographic Society, they restored the awarding and presenting medals named after Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky.
The medal has since been awarded for geographical descriptions of large parts of Russia and other countries, based on their own observations and containing independent views and conclusions, and essays on topical issues and the history of geographical studies and discoveries.
The medal has a regular circle shape with a convex rim on both sides. The obverse of the medal centers a relief portrait of Pyotr Semyonov -Tyan-Shansky, and on the circumference from left to right there is the relief inscription “Pyotr Petrovich Semyonov “. On the reverse of the medal there is the relief inscription “from the Russian Geographic Society”. The inscription is framed with a relief laurel wreath on the inner side. In the lower part are the words in two lines “Founded in 1845”.
