elverno Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 1857 Médaille de Ste. Hélène, France. 32mm Bramsen 2058 d'Essling 3033 You wouldn't know it reading the writeups on the Bay but over 400,000 of the 50mm version of this medal were issued to surviving veterans of the Napoleonic Wars. The fact that there were that many survivors 42 years after the wars ended is a testament to the sheer numbers who participated. What is rare is the associated emphemera providing provenance to a particular example. This piece is one of the 32mm version. All the smaller versions, including this one, were purchased from the Paris mint, probably to be proudly worn at annual parades under the Second Empire. The larger, government version, is too large to comfortably wear. Because the smaller ones were not provided free to the vets they were usually well taken care of. This is a rather worn example; I like to think that the vet who forked over 2 francs (nearly half a days' wages) willed it to a favorite grandchild and so on until even his descendants no longer remembered his glory days and I gave it a new home. My wife says I'm a romantic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Great piece and some interesting info. Hope you keep finding great things to add to your collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 I like to think that the vet who forked over 2 francs (nearly half a days' wages) willed it to a favorite grandchild and so on until even his descendants no longer remembered his glory days and I gave it a new home. My wife says I'm a romantic... More power to you, the World could do with many more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Yes, certainly better a Romantic than a simple investor. However, giving these medals a home, Vern, means you may over time have absorbed some Napoleonic spirit. Do you sometimes feel a need to put your hand inside your coat? or find yourself calculating height and trajectory for your cannon when you see one of your neighbors' houses that you'd rather not have to look at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 How much does that weigh? It looks awfully thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.