Medalha Tiradentes

The Tiradentes Medal (Medalha Tiradentes) is an honor awarded by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro and intended to reward individuals and organizations that have rendered significant services to the public cause of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The medal was established by Resolution No. 359 of August 8, 1989, and is presented only once a year, always on April 21, Tiradentes Day; it is the highest decoration awarded in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

The medal’s features are as follows: it is circular in shape, with two concentric circles; the obverse bears the image of Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, the protomartyr of Brazilian independence, in front of the Tiradentes Palace building, the seat of ALERJ, as well as the legend “Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro” at the top and the inscription “Tiradentes Palace” at the bottom. On the reverse are the inscriptions “Tiradentes Medal” at the top and “Resolution 359/89,” together with the outline of the map of Brazil and the Latin inscription libertas quae sera tamen within it.