RUSSIA, Tsars of Russia. Pavl I Petrovich, 1796-1801. Medal of Merit 1800 (Bronze, 52 mm, 39.60 g, 12 h), for the Yakut prince Belin and his retinue, in recognition of the assistance rendered to Captain Bukharin. By C. Leberecht, uncertain mint, probably St. Petersburg. Б. М. ПАВЕЛЪ I. ИМПЕРАТОРЪ И САМОДЕРЖЕЦЪ ВСЕРОСС. Uniformed bust of Pavl I wearing Order of St. Anne and sash of the Order of St. Andrew. Rev. ЯКУЦКОМУ / КНЯЦУ / КАНГАЛАССКАГО УЛУСА / ГОЛОВЕ БЕЛИНУ / ЗА ОКАЗАННУЮ ПОМОЩЬ / КАПИТАНУ БУХАРИНУ / 1800 ГОДА• in seven lines. Diakov 253.9 var. (without suspension loop). Smirnov 330-b19 var. (without suspension loop). An extremely rare and beautifully preserved Medal of Merit. With original suspension loop. The usual die breaks on the obverse and tiny flan faults, otherwise, virtually as struck.


To secure Russia’s eastern coastline, the Okhotsk fleet, under the command of Captain Bukharin, departed St. Petersburg on 25 June 1799. By the time it reached Yakutsk (eastern Siberia) on February 25, 1800, nearly all the horses had perished. Only with the crucial support of the Yakuts did the party manage to reach Okhotsk that summer, bringing along its full armament and ship equipment.

In recognition, Emperor Pavl I ordered that Yakut leaders - including Prince Belin (Terpjan) and his retinue - be awarded personal medals. Similar medals were also granted to other contributors to the expedition, differing only in the reverse inscriptions. While already rare for Moscow manufacturers or Armenian and Georgian nobles, those naming the Yakut prince Belin are extremely rare.