Military valor in Russia has been celebrated since the earliest times. Until the 15th century, soldiers who distinguished themselves in battle were awarded weapons, armor and horses. Later, special coins began to be minted, from which award medals were then formed.

“For the Defense of Sevastopol” was the first Russian medal issued not for the victory or capture of a settlement, but for defense. In October 1855, Emperor Alexander II arrived in Crimea to pay a visit to the active army. While passing by the troops, he thanked the soldiers for their courage and fortitude. He spent more than a month in Sevastopol among the soldiers. There, by his order issued on October 31, 1855, the emperor established a special medal to award the defenders of the city. Alexander II wrote:

On November 26, 1855, Alexander II issued a decree to the Minister of War establishing this medal. It became the first award of the Crimean War. The diameter of the medal is 28 mm. Its face depicts the monograms of Nicholas I and Alexander II, topped with imperial crowns side by side. On the back of the medal, under the radiant “all-seeing eye”, is a small four-line inscription: “From September 13 — 1854 — to August 28 — 1855” . It is surrounded by an eye-catching inscription performed in large font along the edge of the medal: “For the defense of Sevastopol” .

This medal was intended to be awarded to all defenders of Sevastopol without exception, including women, “…who served in hospitals or provided special services during the defense”. The medal had an eyelet to attach it to a pad or ribbon. The medal should have been worn on the chest. The medal was attached to the St. George’s ribbon. The creators of the medal’s print are medallists of the St. Petersburg Mint, Alexander Lyalin and Vasily Alekseyev. More than 253 thousand medals were produced at the St. Petersburg Mint in 1855  — 1856.