Circular silver medal with laterally pierced ball for ribbon suspension; the face with the Montenegrin coat of arms; the ‘ reverse inscribed in Cyrillic characters ‘VRA SVOBODA ZA KRABROST’ (Faith, Freedom, for Bravery), a cross pattée above, crossed swords and a wreath of laurel and palm below; on replaced correct trifold ribbon.
The Medal was the first Montenegrin decoration, being created in 1841 by Prince-Bishop Petar II Petrovic-Njegos. It was awarded for bravery in battle and continued to be awarded until 1919, at first sparingly but somewhat more liberally during World War I, including some awards to soldiers of Allied Nations.
Early examples had a laterally-pierced cylinder suspension, later ones a ball suspension so this example was probably awarded during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 or World War I.
The Medal is rare.
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