Circular silvered iron medal with eyelet and original loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a cross pattée with a cross gammée imposed and a central rose of Finland, a gauntleted arm holding a sword upper left, a mailed arm holding a scimitar upper right (both from the national arms of Finland) and dated ‘1918’; the reverse with the lion of Finland, signed ‘S & Co’ (for Sporrong & Co) and hallmarked; age-toned; on original ribbon with rare unofficial ‘Savo’ clasp. The medal was instituted on 10 September 1918 by the Finnish Senate and awarded for participation in the war to secure Finnish independence from Russia. The first examples were made in blackened or silvered iron, as here, later examples in silver. Sporrong & Co, founded in Sweden in 1666, are a foremost maker of orders and medals. The ‘Savo’ clasp, given for participation in the fighting in that province of eastern Finland, is one of eleven that could be awarded with the medal; some ex-combatants ordered unofficial versions, as seen here. A rare early example.
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