This commemorative medal from 1909 forms part of the exhibitions ‘Rarities of the Saratov Regional Museum’. Tsar Nicholas II is depicted on the obverse. The following inscriptions circles around the medal: ‘By the Grace of God, Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All Russia.’ The medal’s designer’s initials are visible on the tsar’s neck. A woman in a laurel wreath, sitting against a background of The medal’s reverse divergent beams of light is depicted on the medal’s reverse. She holds a staff with a burning torch in her left hand. Her right hand rests on a book with the following cover inscription: “1909 - 10 - June”. This is an allegorical depiction of the Enlightenment. The following text circles the woman: “To Commemorate the Opening of the Imperial Saratov University, 6 December 1909”. The medal’s designer name is written at the end of the inscription: ‘P. Stadnitskiy.’
Two dates are written on the medal: 10 June 1909 is the day when the Royal Mandate was signed to open the university. 6 December 1909 is the day of the university’s grand opening. Saratov’s university was the tenth to open in the empire. The decision was made to mint this special medal, which immortalizes the memory of the institution’s grand opening. Pyotr Stadnitskiy, a famous artist and medalist was chosen to design the medal. 865 medals were minted in total. Two were minted in gold, 115 in silver and 550 in bronze. The gold medals were presented to Tsar Nicholas II and Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Pyotr Stolypin. Stolypin was a former governor of Saratov, who had contributed greatly to the University’s establishment. The remaining medals were given to those who actively participated in the preparation and management of the opening event. According to the memoirs of Alexander Shwartz, the Minister of Public Education, the Emperor said the following about his depiction on the medal: Nicholas II thought that his ‘eyes were made to look too sleepy.’
The medal exhibited today belonged to Doctor of Medicine and Professor of the Department of Pathological Anatomy, Pyotr Zabolotnov, who directed Saratov University between 1914 and 1918. The medal, along with a number of the professor’s personal items, were given to the museum in 1984.
Two dates are written on the medal: 10 June 1909 is the day when the Royal Mandate was signed to open the university. 6 December 1909 is the day of the university’s grand opening. Saratov’s university was the tenth to open in the empire. The decision was made to mint this special medal, which immortalizes the memory of the institution’s grand opening. Pyotr Stadnitskiy, a famous artist and medalist was chosen to design the medal. 865 medals were minted in total. Two were minted in gold, 115 in silver and 550 in bronze. The gold medals were presented to Tsar Nicholas II and Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Pyotr Stolypin. Stolypin was a former governor of Saratov, who had contributed greatly to the University’s establishment. The remaining medals were given to those who actively participated in the preparation and management of the opening event. According to the memoirs of Alexander Shwartz, the Minister of Public Education, the Emperor said the following about his depiction on the medal: Nicholas II thought that his ‘eyes were made to look too sleepy.’
The medal exhibited today belonged to Doctor of Medicine and Professor of the Department of Pathological Anatomy, Pyotr Zabolotnov, who directed Saratov University between 1914 and 1918. The medal, along with a number of the professor’s personal items, were given to the museum in 1984.
