Bulgaria

[Yankee]

Hello Gentlemen

Here is the all elusive medal for the silver jubilee of Tsar Ferdinand I. Does any member know how many were issued in silver & bronze? Were any ever struck in gold for the aristocracy?

Thanks

Yankee

[922F]

Hello Gentlemen

Here is the all elusive medal for the silver jubilee of Tsar Ferdinand I. Does any member know how many were issued in silver & bronze? Were any ever struck in gold for the aristocracy?

Thanks

Yankee

Rudolf Marshall of Vienna {signature at 8 o'clock position obverse} designed this medal to Tsar Ferdinand's specifications in late 1911---early 1912 for award on 21 December 1912. The obverse inscription translates as "Ferdinand I--Tsar of Bulgaria". The reverse has the Bulgar state arms in the center surrounded by a text around the circumfrence that roughly translates as "commemorating our anniversary of 25 years as ruler 1887-1912.

The medal was struck in both 90 mm and 34 diameter sizes. {The illustrated example appears to be a 90 mm table medal.) Both size medals were struck in Vienna by likely Rothe or possibly Telge sub-contractors. The larger table medal has no suspension; approximately 350 were struck in gilt bronze, 350 in silvered bronze and 350 bronze examples for a total of about 1000 pieces. Table medals went to Members of Parliment {Sobranje}, local authorities, leading citizens and some foreigners.

The smaller wearable medal with a pierced ball/cylinder and ring suspender exists in gilded bronze, originally in about 100 examples. It hangs from a triangular white ribbon with green edge stripes similar to the Saxon Merit Order. Ferdinand personally bestowed these on members of his royal suite, government and civil and military officers. Some foreigners received this medal.

The medals celebrate Ferdinand's 25th jubilee as Bulgar ruler but he continued to award them after 1912, even in exile {in Coburg} as a mark of personal favor. Silver gilt medals exist but they appear to be castings--these pieces likely were made in the 1920s-30s in Coburg as several contemporary medal bars contain them. The number of these varients made is unknown, as is the potential date range. It is possible that some were awarded as late as 1940-43.

It is also entirely possible, given his personal tastes and finances, that Ferdinand commissioned 14 or 18 karat gold examples of both the table and wearable medals.

Sources--D. Acovic "Bulgarian Orders, Decorations, and Medals" Beograd, 1987, Denkov "Order and Medals of Bulgaria" Sofia, 1995, P. Petrov, "Order and Medals of Bulgaria" Sofia, 1998, Pavlov "Bulgarian Orders and Medals" Sofia, 2002

NOTE: Petrov confuses table medals with wearable medals in arriving at the number of pieces struck. Acovic, Denkov and Pavlov present correct information based on archival documentation.

[Yankee]

Rudolf Marshall of Vienna {signature at 8 o'clock position obverse} designed this medal to Tsar Ferdinand's specifications in late 1911---early 1912 for award on 21 December 1912. The obverse inscription translates as "Ferdinand I--Tsar of Bulgaria". The reverse has the Bulgar state arms in the center surrounded by a text around the circumfrence that roughly translates as "commemorating our anniversary of 25 years as ruler 1887-1912.

The medal was struck in both 90 mm and 34 diameter sizes. {The illustrated example appears to be a 90 mm table medal.) Both size medals were struck in Vienna by likely Rothe or possibly Telge sub-contractors. The larger table medal has no suspension; approximately 350 were struck in gilt bronze, 350 in silvered bronze and 350 bronze examples for a total of about 1000 pieces. Table medals went to Members of Parliment {Sobranje}, local authorities, leading citizens and some foreigners.

The smaller wearable medal with a pierced ball/cylinder and ring suspender exists in gilded bronze, originally in about 100 examples. It hangs from a triangular white ribbon with green edge stripes similar to the Saxon Merit Order. Ferdinand personally bestowed these on members of his royal suite, government and civil and military officers. Some foreigners received this medal.

The medals celebrate Ferdinand's 25th jubilee as Bulgar ruler but he continued to award them after 1912, even in exile {in Coburg} as a mark of personal favor. Silver gilt medals exist but they appear to be castings--these pieces likely were made in the 1920s-30s in Coburg as several contemporary medal bars contain them. The number of these varients made is unknown, as is the potential date range. It is possible that some were awarded as late as 1940-43.

It is also entirely possible, given his personal tastes and finances, that Ferdinand commissioned 14 or 18 karat gold examples of both the table and wearable medals.

Sources--D. Acovic "Bulgarian Orders, Decorations, and Medals" Beograd, 1987, Denkov "Order and Medals of Bulgaria" Sofia, 1995, P. Petrov, "Order and Medals of Bulgaria" Sofia, 1998, Pavlov "Bulgarian Orders and Medals" Sofia, 2002

NOTE: Petrov confuses table medals with wearable medals in arriving at the number of pieces struck. Acovic, Denkov and Pavlov present correct information based on archival documentation.

Hi 922F

Wowww excellent information, one of the lesser known medals. Only a 100 awarded that explains why they are so difficult to come across. Interesting to note they were handed out in gilded bronze. I suppose with the Balkan wars raging at that time he decided to be economical. This must be the rarest of the Ferdinand l medals under his reign. Thanks

Sincerely

Yankee

[Ed_Haynes]

But this is a non-wearable table "medal", right?? Any images of the real ones?

Edited September 7, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[922F]

But this is a non-wearable table "medal", right?? Any images of the real ones?

Glad to assist, Yankee. Yes, Ed, Yankee's image is one of the table medals. Wearing medal images are available in copyrighted materials including --D. Acovic "Bulgarian Orders, Decorations, and Medals" Beograd, 1987 (reduced size, Xerox type, unclear b/w ), P. Petrov, "Order and Medals of Bulgaria" Sofia, 1998 (b/w, his 2000 edition has full size color), and Pavlov "Bulgarian Orders and Medals" Sofia, 2002 (full size color). At last year's OMSA convention, a silver gilt example with readily apparent casting flaws was on offer for about $900.

[Yankee]

But this is a non-wearable table "medal", right?? Any images of the real ones?

Hi Ed

Unfortunately I do not have an example of the ribbon worn medal, perhaps another member does & kind enough to post it. The few books I have only show the table medal

Sincerely

Yankee