Russia Medal 1834 in memory of the opening of the Alexander Column in St Petersburg; August 30. 1834. St. Petersburg Mint. Medalist P.P. Utkin (face style - below on the field: K.P.UTKIN; ob. style - on the right under the crop line of the image: P.U.); portrait of the emperor - a copy of the stamp I.A. Shilov 1810. Bronze; 57 g. Diameter 50mm. CPM# 378. Smirnov# 472/v. Dyakov# 511.1 (R0). NGC MS 64 BN The Alexander Column (Alexandrian Pillar) - a monument in honor of the victory of the Russian people in the Patriotic War of 1812 on Palace Square in St. Petersburg - was built in 1830–1834. designed by the architect O. R. de Montferrand (1786–1858). Named in honor of Emperor Alexander I. The basis of the monument is a red granite monolith, mined and processed in the Pyuterlak quarry near Vyborg in 1830–1832. This is the highest granite monolith in the world (height 25.5 m; weight about 600 tons); which rests on a pedestal by its own gravity. The column is crowned with a bronze figure of an Angel (his face is given the features of Emperor Alexander I); trampling a snake with a cross (sculptor B.I. Orlovsky). The total height of the monument is 47.5 m. The grand opening of the Alexander Column took place on August 30 1834 in the presence of Emperor Nicholas I; the imperial family, the diplomatic corps; 100 thousand Russian troops and representatives of the Prussian army. The hymn 'God Save the Tsar' was performed (for the first time as the official national anthem of Russia); guards regiments marched past the monument.
