I got the translation from Eugene Michailovich, aka Siberian Man, who lives in Tomsk.Commemorative medal: "250th Anniversary - naval battle in Gangut". Portrait of Peter the Great. "It's truly impossible to describe the courage of Russian soldiers!" Chris
To understand the significance of this commemoration, you have to factor the era in which this medal was issued. In my days in the later USSR Tsarist references were a lot more tolerated, yes tolerated. But in the mid 1960's referencing historical events that occurred in Tsarist era necessitated a lot more justification. It is very possible to find table medals from that era that collectors in USSR saved - but they usually deal with socialist ideals etc. Something referencing a 250 years prior naval battle really had to have some significance - particularly for the Soviet naval historians and people who served in the Soviet navy.When I collected medals, I avoided the Lenin, labour etc stuff and went more for scientific, historical stuff for my collection.