1896, Italy/Montenegro. Marriage of Victor Emmanuel III to Elena of Montenegro. Bronze Medal.
Mint Year: 1896 Reference: Terisse2p.463. Denomination: Medal - Marriage of Victor Emmanuel III to Elena of Montenegro. Condition: Minimal deposits, otherwise a nice UNCirculated with proof-like appearance! Diameter: 28mm (without the suspension loop) Material: Bronze Weight: 8.07gm
Obverse: Shining star above busts of the royal couple vis-a-vis. Legend: ELENA - VITTORIO EMANUELE
Reverse: Date (1896) above crowned dual coat-of-arms of the Kingdoms of Montenegro & Italy on wreath. Legend: RICORDO ALLE AUGUSTE NOZZE / 1896
Being of Orthodox religion, Elena, for reasons of royal opportunity and to support Queen Margherita, mother of Vittorio Emanuele, left Montenegro. On 21 October 1896, with Vittorio Emanuele, she landed in Bari, where at the basilica of St. Nicola, before the wedding, she converted to Catholicism from Orthodox Christianity, although her father would have preferred the conversion to be proclaimed after the marriage. Her mother was so distressed that Elena had changed her religion, that she refused to come to the wedding ceremony in Rome.