The medal is in aluminum with lacquer coating, Measures 54.2 mm x 74.2 mm, weighs 35.6 g. The obverse shows bas-relief portraits and facsimile signatures of Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, the two founders of the theater. The latter was a very prominent screenwriter and director, while the former achieved world fame as a genius theatrical actor, director and methodologist (his Stanislavski "system" in practicing for theatrical roles is still being taught and practiced around the world.) On the right, there are the dates "1898-1968" and the stylized fly

The medal is in aluminum with lacquer coating, Measures 54.2 mm x 74.2 mm, weighs 35.6 g. The obverse shows bas-relief portraits and facsimile signatures of Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, the two founders of the theater. The latter was a very prominent screenwriter and director, while the former achieved world fame as a genius theatrical actor, director and methodologist (his Stanislavski "system" in practicing for theatrical roles is still being taught and practiced around the world.) On the right, there are the dates "1898-1968" and the stylized flying seagull logo of the theatre, a homage to The Seagull by Chekhov. The lower part of the medal shows the Roman numeral "LXX" and the spelled-out name of the theater.

On the reverse, there is an inscription "In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Moscow Academic Art Theatre of the Union of SSR named in honor of M. Gorky. The founders of the theater: K.S. Stanislavski and V. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko".

The case of issue is wrapped in green leatherette. The interior is lined in silk and beautiful violet velvet evoking a theater curtain. The fitted nest has a special piece of cloth tape for the easy extraction of the medal.

The medal is in excellent, near mint condition. There is no visible wear to the lacquer finish or the details of the artwork. The box is likewise perfect, with barely a sign of wear to the exterior and perfectly clean interior.

Designed by A. Kozlov and V. Selivanov, this Leningrad Mint medal is highly unusual in several ways. Firstly, it is made in aluminum and heavy coating of lacquer of light green tinge- a highly uncommon medium for the Soviet table medals, at least those produced by a mint rather than one of less important manufacturers. It is perhaps a result of the cost-cutting measures that came in the early 60s and lingered throughout the rest of the decade as a legacy of Khrushchev era. Note also the somewhat uncommon rectangular shape. Lastly, the medal was produced in incredibly small numbers: according to the reference guide by Shkurko and Salykov, only 200 were struck - an almost unprecedented case. Its tiny circulation leads us to believe that the medal was issued exclusively to the theater's leading actors, directors and managers, and perhaps a few top VIPs of the Soviet cultural establishment.

/Commemorative [Table] Medal of the Soviet Period, 1919 - 1991. A. Shkurko, A. Salykov, fig. 515/.

Please note, the penny in our photo is for size reference.
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