School gold medal has always been a privilege that we have been striving for since the first years of study. When we were still children, having visited graduation parties, we observed with what joy the student receives a gold award from the director for high achievements in science and excellent discipline. Involuntarily, he himself had a desire to earn this valuable prize.
History of school gold medals
The history of the gold medal dates back to the reign of Nicholas I. In 1835, the tsar approved the awarding of a medal for high achievements in science. Moreover, it could only be received by males. The gold medal had nothing to do with women. On the front side of the award was a coat of arms - an eagle with two heads under the royal headdress. And on the other side, of course, Minerva (the patroness of sciences) was depicted, and the inscription "To the Successful" flaunted. With her left hand, the goddess raised the lamp, and with her right hand she held a laurel wreath, at her feet sat an owl with the attributes of science: a scroll and a globe. The silver medal looked similar, only it wasmade from a different material. The woman was awarded the title of "gold medalist" only during the reign of Alexander II. Moreover, two types of medals were issued, since half of the women's gymnasiums were under the patronage of Empress Maria Alexandrovna, and the second half was in charge of the Ministry of Public Education. On the reverse side of the medal of the Empress, the inscription "The most worthy of those who completed the course in women's gymnasiums" was depicted, which flaunted in the interweaving of vines, and the same Minerva with the attributes of science was depicted on ministerial medals.
The front side of both medals was the same: a profile image of the queen with the inscription "The Empress Maria Alexandrovna". After the patroness of women's success in science, the wife of Nicholas II, Maria Feodorovna, became the patroness, and since that time her image has been knocked out on one side of the medal.
Medals in the USSR
In this, almost unchanged form, gold medals survived until 1917, and then such an award ceased until 1945. After the war, by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, gold and silver medals were again made in the form of a round coin made of precious metal. In 1954, the decision was made to use gold of a lower standard (for lower costs). Until 1960, the precious metal was used only as a coating, and the awarding of a silver medal ceased altogether in 1968. Beginning in 1977, in connection with the change in the coat of arms of the USSR, new awards began to be issued. Now a medal(a gold star adorned the top of it) was given to successful students.
Modern gold medals
After the collapse of the USSR, each republic introduced its own gold medals, with their own coat of arms and images. During the entrance exams to the university, the holders of the gold medal had significant privileges, since they had the right to enter only after an interview or if they passed the first exam with excellent marks. After the change in the examination procedure (the introduction of the Unified State Examination), the gold medal continued to "warm the soul" of their owners, but did not play any role in admission. Will modern schoolchildren strive for them? Unknown.
