Could this be a genuine medal?

I got it because I liked it. I do not collect medals.
Any ideas appreciated...

 

The source would suggest its russian.

 

That's what I think immediately but not certain of it.

 

St. Catherine was martyred on a wheel, so she's shown with a wheel and St. Stephen was killed with arrows so he's usually shown looking like a pincushion. This image has a wheel and arrows, so it's confusing. Isn't it St. Mark whose icon is a lion? Plus that looks like a recumbent dismembered body at the bottom.

 

You might do a search for Knights of Columbus paraphernalia

 

It is kind of far fetched, but the medieval kings of Armenia are shown on such a throne with lions, and also king Solomon is associated with a throne with two lions...
The figure has a medieval look to me, as if it is copying some old depiction of a king or saint or both.
Mat

 

St.Mark is my family patron, and he
is depicted with a lion by his side. Two beasts depicted here do not remind me of lions, though. I shall inquire your suggestion. Thanks Bev

 

The oreol around the head is that of a saint , no doubt and I agree it looks christian orthodox, only unknown to me.
I will research that too.... Thanks

 

Also the strange crown over the medaillon coud be a clue, but I do not recognize it, unfortunately.

 

Me neither.
Two stars on the side of the head should have a military meaning in my oppinion.

 

Is this similar enough to be... similar?
http://www.ebay.es/sch/sis.html?_nk...iginal german medal gold&_itemId=141712584464

 

The form is called a 'breast badge' and usually relates to an order of chivalry. It is not a medal or a medallion.

 

I do think they are stylized lions and I agree with AF. That's why I said to check the KofC and some other fraternal organizations.

 

http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Oslo

~Cheryl

 

Whoa! That was fast. Good job.

 

Eh, been collecting Scandinavian stuff for most of my life, recognized it immediately - hoped someone else would too, but seemed to be heading off-course...

~Cheryl

 

At least I was right about the figure at the bottom, although she wasn't dismembered. Interesting story. We've been all over Scandinavia, but never Norway for some reason.

 

Envious, Bev - not much of a traveler, but I'm a quarter Danish, was always interested in my 'Viking' heritage...

~Cheryl

 

Vikings were rather active, I guess most of us are some part vikings as far as genes are conerned