Russian Romanov Tercentenary Cross of 1913

Click thumbnails for expanded view.

Off Market

$4,200.00

Item Not Available

This Tercentenary cross of 1913 was issued in memory of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and presented to Orthodox Priests for exceptional merit. Enamelled in green, black and white, the cross is surmounted by the the ancient Russian Crown of Monomakh. The reverse is decorated with the Russian inscription: We Rule the Empire Through God with initials M for Michael and Cyrillic N for Nicholas II, for the first and last Romanov Tsar, with the Russian Coat of Arms and the dates 1613 and 1913. The cross is in excellent condition.

1913, Stamped St. Petersburg, 1908- 17, maker's mark AO

2.6 in. (6.6 cm.) long

300 Years of Romanov Rule

The Romanov Tercentenary marked the dynasty's final chapter. Ironically, despite his imminent demise, the last Tsar's popularity had never been greater, as the cheering masses during the 1913 celebrations revealed. A service in the Cathedral of our Lady of Kazan in St. Petersburg was held in February, followed by numerous receptions at the Winter Palace and a lavish ball in honor of the Imperial Couple, Nicholas and Alexandra. To commemorate Russia's pre-Petrine past, the Tsarina wore the traditional kokoshnik headdress with a simple tunic. In May the couple retraced the pilgrimage taken by Michael Fedorovich, the first Romanov Tsar, from his birthplace in Kostroma to the ancient capital of Moscow.