IdentifyMedals Logo

Category: Round and Oval

The Medal For the Completion of the Yambol-Burgas Railway

The Medal For the Completion of the Yambol-Burgas Railway is a commemorative Bulgarian medal established 14th/26th May and awarded to members of the Pioneer regiment who was responsible for the construction of the Yambol-Burgas railway in memory of the successful completion of the construction of the line.

While officers of the regiment were decorated with the silver medal, officer candidates, NCOs and enlisted men received the bronze medal.

The Medal For the Completion of the Yambol-Burgas Railway Design

The medal is circular and measures 30 millimeters in diameter. It was engraved by Joseph Cristlebauer and produced in Austro-Hungary.

The obverse bears the effigy of Prince Ferdinand I circumscribed with the inscription “ФЕРДИНАНДЪ Iий КНЯЗЬ НА БЪЛГАРИЯ” (“Ferdinand Ist Knyaz (Prince) of Bulgaria“). The sections are separated with two six-pointed stars.

The reverse bears a winged wheel with lightning bolts positioned below a smaller badge of a crossed spade and axe, surmounted by a roulette. The inscription along the edge reads “ЯМБОЛЪ – БУРГАСЪ 14. МАЙ 1890” (“Yambol – Burgas 14. May 1890“).

The ribbon is red and has a thin white border and thin green stripes on both edges.

The Medal For Participation In The Serbo-Bulgarian War 1885

The Medal For Participation In The Serbo-Bulgarian War 1885 is a Bulgarian medal awarded to Bulgarian veterans of the 14–28 November 1885 war with the Kingdom of Serbia in late 1885. Due to the Prince’s forced abdication, these decorations were suspended in September 1886.

The medal was minted in two classes: Silver, for the soldiers and officers who took part in the battles with the Serbian military, and Bronze, for all military men who did not participate in the battles directly or to civilians who helped the army during this conflict.

The Medal For Participation In The Serbo-Bulgarian War 1885 Design

The medal is circular and measures 33 millimeters in diameter.

Version 1:

The obverse depicts Prince Alexander I in a semi-profile, dressed in full parade uniform. Circumscribed is a text (of which there are two variations). In Russian: “АЛЕКСАНДРЪ I ПОБѢДОНОСНЫЙ КНЯЗЬ БЪЛГАРIИ” (“Alexander I Victorious Knyaz (Prince) of Bulgaria“). In Bulgarian: “АЛЕКСАНДРЪ I. ПОБѢДОНОСНИЙ КНЯЗЪ БЪЛГАРСКИЙ” (“Alexander I Victorious Bulgarian Knyaz (Prince)“).

The reverse features the Greek goddess of victory Nike mounted upon a flying eagle. She holds a palm leaf on her left hand, and her right one is elevated and holding a laurel wreath. Along the edge of the medal is inscribed one of the following. In Russian: “ВЪ ПАМЯТЬ СЛАВНОЙ 1885 КАМПАНIИ“ and a five-pointed star. In Bulgarian: “ВЪ ПАМЯТЪ НАСЛАВНАТА ВОЙНА ВЪ 1885 ГОД“ and a decorative beaded flower of six foils. Both texts are translated as “In memory of the glorious campaign (or war) of 1885”.

Version 2:

The obverse bears the coats of arms of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, conjoined together with the Hessen royal crown on top. In a circle along the edge is inscribed, in a Slavonic script: “АЛЕКСАНДРЪ I КНЯЗЬ БЪЛГАРСКИЙ” (“Alexander I Bulgarian Knyaz (Prince)“) and a six-pointed star.

The reverse has the inscription “БЛАГОДАРНОТО ОТЕЧЕСТВО НА СВОИТѢ ХРАБРИ СИНОВЕ 1885” (“The grateful fatherland to its brave sons 1885“) written on four lines and positioned within a circular laurel wreath entwined with a ribbon. Its sections bear the names of the towns or locations, where the battles of the Serbo-Bulgarian war took place (ДРАГОМАНЪ, ЦАРИБРОДЪ, ПИРОТЪ, ВИДИНЪ, СЛИВНИЦА, ГОРГУЛЯТА, БРѢЗНИКЪ).

For both versions, the ribbon consists of four purple and three white equally-sized alternating stripes.

The Medal For The Coronation of Knjaz Alexander of Battenberg

The Medal For The Coronation of Knjaz Alexander of Battenberg is a rare commemorative Bulgarian medal established during the second half of 1879.

It was a personal award, given on behalf of the newly elected Monarch to members of the first Bulgarian cabinet, members of the Prince’s private suite, his relatives from the Grand Duchy of Hesse, and Imperial Russian generals serving in Bulgaria among others.

The Medal For The Coronation of Knjaz Alexander of Battenberg Design

The medal is circular and measures 27 millimeters in diameter. The obverse depicts the effigy of Prince Alexander I in profile, circumscribed by His royal title: “АЛЕКСАНДРЪ I. КНЯЗЬ НА БЪЛГАРIЯ” (translation: “Alexander I. Knyaz (Prince) of Bulgaria“). The reverse bears an engraving of the Bulgarian coat of arms with two lion-supporters standing upon a decorative floral element and a scroll stating “ЗА СПОМЕНЪ 1879“ (translation: “In memory 1879“).

The medal was designed by the famous engraver Karl Schwenzer and struck in Austro-Hungary.

The ribbon is white, edged with thin green and red stripes on both sides.

The Medal in Memory of the Glorious 1885 Campaign

The Medal in Memory of the Glorious 1885 Campaign is a Bulgarian medal established in 1886 and awarded to Bulgarian veterans of the 14–28 November 1885 war with the Kingdom of Serbia during the reign of Alexander I.

This medal was replaced by the “For Participation In The Serbo-Bulgarian War 1885” medal after the abdication of Alexander I (the last ones were issued in September 1886).

The Medal in Memory of the Glorious 1885 Campaign Design

The medal is circular and measures 33 millimiters in diameter. It was issued in two variations: one with Russian text and one with Bulgarian text.

The Medal of Merit (Bulgaria)

The Medal of Merit was established by Prince Alexander on 25th December 1881 for merits to the Bulgarian nation and the Crown.

The medal was awarded in three possible classes: Golden, silver and bronze. The gold medal, awarded only a handful of times, as it could only be given to people who already had been distinguished with a Grand cross or First class of a Bulgarian order. Silver and bronze medals were more common, usually intended for army officers and civil servants. The bronze medal was usually awarded to enlisted men, NCOs, clerks, and other low-ranking civil servants.

The Medal of Merit Design

The medal is circular and measures 27 millimeters in diameter. The golden classes were produced of a silver base (or another metal alloy) and then gilded.

The obverse depicts the effigy of the ruling monarch with His royal title circumscribed (Knjaz Alexander, Knjaz Ferdinand, Tsar Ferdinand I, Tsar Boris III or Tsar Boris III). The reverse features in the middle the inscription “ЗА ЗАСЛУГА” (Translated “For merit“), with a five-pointed star beneath it. Both are placed within a circular wreath of oak and laurel twigs bound together with a ribbon at the bottom.

The ribbon is in the crimson color of the Royal Order of St Alexander.

The Medal For The Allocation Of War Banners To The Bulgarian Army

The Medal for The Allocation of War Banners To The Bulgarian Army is a Bulgarian medal established on 30 August 1881 and personally awarded by Knjaz Alexander during a solemn ceremony on the same day to the senior officers of the Bulgarian Army, the high-ranking officials, the battalion commanders, and their aide-de-camp and standard bearers.

There are two variations of this medal, one with a Royal Hessen type crown between the ribbon and medal and one without.

The Medal For The Allocation Of War Banners To The Bulgarian Army Design

The medal has a diameter of 20 millimeters. The ribbon was narrow and red.

The Medal for Participation in the Patriotic War of 1944-1945

The Medal for Participation in the Patriotic War of 1944-1945 (or За Участие В Отечествената Война 1944–1945 г) was instituted on 9 September 1945 and awarded to those who participated in fighting Nazi German and other fascist forces between 9 September 1944 and 9 May 1945 (following the Soviet invasion of Bulgaria in September 1944 Bulgarian troops fought with the Soviet army against the Germans).

The medal was awarded over 195,000 times and was canceled in 1991.

The Medal for Participation in the Balkan Wars 1912-1913

The Medal for Participation in the Balkan Wars 1912-1913 (or За Участие В Балканските Войни 1912-913 г) was instituted on 9 December 1933 and awarded to Bulgarian participants of the 1912-1913 Balkan wars.

The medal was created by decree and awarded to both military and civilians until 31 December 1939. The First Balkan War ended with the Treaty of London on 30 May 1913. However, the victors fell out over the division of the spoils, with Serbia and Greece forming an alliance against Bulgaria and the Second Balkan War broke out at the end of June. An armistice was agreed on 31 July with Bulgaria losing most of her gains from the First War, Serbia becoming the dominant Balkan power and a lingering sense of Bulgarian grievance that would lead to her participation in both World Wars on the side of the Central Powers.

About 300,000 medals were awarded.

The Medal for Participation in the Balcan Wars 1912-1913 Design

The medal is circular, 2.8mm thick, made of silver, and has a loop for ribbon suspension.

The obverse bears the crowned state coat of arms imposed on crossed swords and encircled by a wreath of oak and laurel. The reverse shows the dates ‘1912-1913’ encircled by a wreath of wheat, oak, roses and laurel.

There are 3 variations in this medal, each indicated by a different ribbon. Additional white or black stripes were included for civilians and participants killed in action.

The Medal for Participation in the European War 1915-1918

The Medal for Participation in the European War 1915–1918 is a Bulgarian military decoration awarded to individuals who served in WW1.

The Medal for Participation in the European War 1915-1918 (or За Участие В Европейската Война) was instituted on 9 December 1933 and awarded to Bulgarian and Bulgarian allied force participants of the “1915–1918” war (The Great War). It was issued to all WWI veterans including military personnel, non-combatants (such as medics, war journalists, and civilians) and relatives of KIAs. Also eligible were NCOs, former officers, and soldiers from Central Powers armies.

The medal was awarded until December 31, 1939. About 249,000 medals were issued (about 50,000 to Bulgarians and about 199,000 to allied forces) in three classes.

The Medal for Participation in the European War 1915-1918 Design

The medal is circular and measures 32,1 mm in diameter. It was made of gilt bronze. They were manufactured by the Lüdenscheid-based company “Gebrüder Gloerfeld” (the first lot of 30,000), the Swiss company “Huguenin Gebr.&Co.” (59,000), the Sofia-based manufacturer Бердж Керестеджиев and “Otto Shiсkle”(60,000 medals in 1939).

The obverse of the medal shows a crowned Bulgarian coat of arms imposed on crossed swords and flanked by laurel and oak branches. The reverse shows the dates of the Bulgarian participation in the Great War (“1915-1918”) inscribed in two lines in the centre, encircled by a wreath of wheat, laurel, oak and roses that symbolized Macedonia, Thrace and Moesia.

The ribbon was made of 39 mm wide silk and followed colors of the Bulgarian flag. The medal was awarded to people who did not participate directly in war activities with a central white stripe in the ribbon. Medals for next of kin had a central black stripe.

The Bulgarian Wound Badge

The Bulgarian Wounded Badge was instituted in 1941 and awarded to those wounded on active service. The number on the obverse indicates the number of wounds.

The Wound Badges were issued with a crown on the top during the Regency period. After September 9, 1944, during the Republican period, royal symbols were removed from awards and the crown of the Wounded Badge was exchanged for a plain wreath or a communist red star.

The Bulgarian Wound Badge Design

The Bulgarian Wounded Badge is an oval zinc alloy badge measuring 37 by 52 millimeters and made in silver gilt and enamels. It consisted of multiple pieces such as a main silver-colored element with wreath, a red-enameled middle-plate, a brass lion, and a nickel-plated backplate with the hallmark of the maker.

The obverse features a wreath of oak and laurel encircling a hatched ground, a pale blue painted cross pattée with scalloped ends to the arms bearing a gilt Bulgarian lion, a helmet in its right paw, an escutcheon bearing the number of wounds in its left, the royal crown with flying pendelia (tassels) above, and a scroll below inscribed ‘За БЪЛГАРНЯ’ (translated “for Bulgaria”). The reverse has a pinback for wear.