Russia Bronze Medal 1866 - In Memory of the Miraculous Salvation of Emperor Alexander II, April 4, 1866
13.82g. 30mm. UNC/AU. Obv.: Beneath the semicircular inscription, a front-facing portrait of O.I. Komissarov in a coat with a fur collar, with the initials W.K. at the bottom of the rim. ОСИПЪ ИВАНОВИЧЪ КОМИССАРОВЪ-КОСТРОМСКОЙ. Rev.: Within the framing of the circular inscription, an Orthodox cross in radiance, with the initials W.K. at the bottom of the rim. ВЪ ПАМѦТЬ ЧУДЕСНАГО СПАСЕНIѦ ГОСУДАРѦ ИМПЕРАТОРА АЛЕКСАНДРА IIГО ВЪ 4Й ДЕНЬ АПРѢЛѦ 1866 Г •. Medalier: V. Kulrich. Diakov: 746.2. Osip Ivanovich Komissarov played a crucial role in the miraculous survival of Emperor Alexander II of Russia during an assassination attempt on April 4, 1866. The emperor was walking in the Summer Garden of St. Petersburg when a young man named Dmitry Karakozov aimed a pistol at him. Just as Karakozov fired, Komissarov, a hat maker from Tula who happened to be nearby, saw the danger and acted swiftly. He struck the assassin's arm, causing the shot to miss the emperor. This act of bravery not only saved the life of Alexander II but also marked a significant event in Russian history. The emperor, grateful for Komissarov's heroic deed, rewarded him with a monetary reward and a lifetime pension. The incident heightened concerns about the security of the Russian monarch, leading to increased protective measures around him.