The medal that drove the engraver to his death

elverno

This is one of the most commonly restruck pieces of all time. It originally was intended as a 'jeton de presence',
a token payment for officers of the Bank of France. When Dumarest first engraved it a clumsy assistant dropped
the unhardened dies, totally trashing them (a technical term!). The second set of dies, from which this piece is
struck, lasted only a short time because the person responsible for hardening them did a poor job and they quickly
broke. In his frustration Dumarest refused to engrave his whole name on the next set. This is why the 'common' originals
have just a 'D' in the exergue. While observing the latter set of dies being mishandled again it is said that "M. Dumarest
died of apopolexy."



In later years the original dies were copied with Dumarest's complete signature. Check your edge marks!

a2labmom

What an interesting looking piece. Thanks for sharing.

cacheman

Sounds like my kinda luck....interesting info though.

historygeek

So... Is it considered a bad luck coin? Or something you give to a person you hate?

Clankeye

Interesting. And a heck of a good looking design.

Clankeye

1jester

Ooooohhh, that's a beautiful medal!!! I like the toning on the silver too. The story just makes it all the more intriguing. Thanks for sharing.

Askari

I'm only surprised the diecutters outlived him.