1897, Germany (Empire). Satirical "Russia-France Alliance" Medal. Top Pop 1/0! NGC MS62!

Mint Year: 1897
Mint Place: Stuttgart
Maker: Mayer & Wilhelm
References: Davenport 3699, KM-78.
Denomination: Satirical Medal - Russia-France Alliance of 1896/1897.
Condition: Certified and graded by NGC as MS-62 BN! - Population 1/0!
Weight: 16.23gm
Material: Bronze
Length: 33mm

Obverse: Marianne (personification of France) hugging bearded Ivan (personification of Russia) and looking in his eyes.
Legend: ANDENKEN AN DIE DENKWÜRDIGEN TAGE PARIS OCTOBER 1896 St. PETERSBURG AUGUST 1897
Translated: "In commemoration of the memorable days, Paris, October 1896, St. Petersburg 1897."

Reverse:Putto seated facing on globus, surrounded by clouds, wearing jester's cap and pointing at globus which shows to map with France and Russia inscription.
Legend: DIE WELT IST RUND UND MUSS SICH DREH'N / WIE BALD WIRD DIESE FREUNDSCHAFT VERGEH'N / IN MEMORIAM / MOSKAU 1812 - SEBASTOPOL 1854
Translated: "The world is round and must turn, how soon will this friendship end. Moscow 1812-Sevastopol 1854."

The Franco-Russian Alliance (French: Alliance Franco-Russe, Russian: Франко-Русский Альянс, romanized: Franko-Russkiy Al'yans), or Russo-French Rapprochement (Rapprochement Franco-Russe, Русско-Французское Сближение; Russko-Frantsuzskoye Sblizheniye), was an alliance formed by the agreements of 1891–94; it lasted until 1917. The strengthening of the German Empire, the creation of the Triple Alliance of 1882, and the exacerbation of Franco-German and Russo-German tensions at the end of the 1880s led to a common foreign policy and mutual strategic military interests between France and Russia. The development of financial ties between the two countries created the economic prerequisites for the Russo-French Alliance.