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Auction: 340 - The Numismatic Collectors' Series Sale
Lot: 526

Russia. Award Medal for the Storming of the Caucasian Fastness of Akhulgo, 1839. Silver, 25.3 mm. Crowned Nicholas I cipher, rev. Four-line legend. Bit 841A (R3), Diakov 549.1 (R2), Sm 503. Awarded to military personnel, doctors and clergy who participated in the siege of the Avar village of Akhulgo from June 12 to August 23, 1839. In June 1839, the Russian Imperial army besieged Caucasian resistance leader Imam Shamil and some 4,000-5,000 of his followers - men, women and children -- in their mountain fastness of Akhulgo in Dagestan. The Russian force of some 7,000 troops was under the command of Generals Yevgeny Golovin and Pavel Grabbe. Four times they attacked the fortified village, up the steep slopes, with no success. Finally, with the help of heavy artillery, the Russians, after 80 days, stormed Akhulgo. The rebels were slaughtered, while the Russians lost over a third of their men in the bitter fighting. Imam Shamil, though, together with his family and a small party of his closest followers, escaped down the cliffs and through the Russian lines. Very Rare. Integral loop. Light reddish deposit near loop, scrape on reverse edge, some small rim nicks. Light slate gray. About Very Fine.

Sold for
$280