Catherine II. Count Alexey Grigorievich Orlov, 1770.
Bronze award medal. Signed by J. B. Gass. 91 mm. 251,8 gr. R1. Minor scratchmarks in fields and die crack on reverse. Otherwise VF. Diakov 153.1.

Obverse with a half-length bust of Admiral Orlov in full uniform of the Chevalier Guards, holding a baton in his extended right hand. Orlov wears the blue ribbon of St Andrew over his right shoulder. Following the edge of the medal, the inscription ГP: A · ГР : ОРЛОВЪ · ПОБЂДИТЕЛЬ И ИСТРEБИ ТЂЛЬ ТУРEЦКАГО ФЛОТА (Count Alexis Grigorovich Orlov, victor and destroyer of the Turkish fleet). The signature I·R·GASS·F
(made by J. B. Gass) under the right arm. Johann Baltasar Gass (1730-1813) was a Russian engraver who worked at the St-Peterburg Mint from 1768 to 1793.
Reverse with a plan of the naval battle of Chesme, modern-day Turkish Çeşme showing the position of the fleets and the surrounding land inscribed with the names of the places; НАТОЛЇИ (Anatolia), ЛАЗАМЕНО (Lazemeno, current Alaçati), ОСТ. СПАЛМА ТОРЕ (Ost Spalmatore; current Oinousses), ЧЕСМЕ (CHESME, current Çeşme), ОСТ. ХЇО (Island Scio, current island Chios), СЦІО (Scio, current city Chios), З ФИНО
(Z. Fino), ЛЕНА (Lena, S. Elene), O. ГОНСИ (O. Gonsi, I. Hongi); O. GONSI; Z. FINO; STSIO; LENA; OST. KHIO. Legend И БЬІСТЬ РОССЇИ РАДОСТЬ И ВЕСЕЛЇЕ (And there was in Russia joy and gladness).
In exergue ЧЕСМА ІЮНЯ 24·И 26·1770./ВЪ БЛАГОДАРНОСТЬ ПОБЕ/ДИЕЛЮ ОТЪ АДМ :/ КОЛЛ : (Chesme 24 and 26 June 1770 in gratitude to the victor from the Admiralty Collegium.)

Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov (1737-1808) started his career in the Imperial Russian army. In 1762,
he was one of the conspirators in the plot to overthrow Tsar Peter III and install Catherine on the throne. It was believed that Orlov was responsible for the death of Peter III. After the installment of Catherine, Orlov remained in her favour. During the Russo-Turkish war of 1768-1774, he commanded the victorious naval expedition. In 1769, for the first time in history, a Russian fleet arrived in the Mediterranean, having sailed from the Baltic. When the fleet arrived at the Peloponnese a Greek revolt broke out also known as the Orlov revolt and a precursor of the Greek War of Independence of 1821. On 5 July 1770, Orlov located the Ottoman fleet anchored at Çeşme Bay. A battle ensued between the Russian force of nine battleships and three frigates (710 guns) and the Turkish force of 20 battleships and frigates (1.300 guns) which lasted three days. It ended in a Russian victory and one of the greatest naval defeats suffered by the Ottomans.

Lit: Anderson, 286-291; Diakov2, 144-145; Map Chesma.