How Napoleon invented ice skating...

elverno

Ok, so he didn't really invent it! But he did have Ourcq Canal built near Paris and in 1818 Capt. Laskey would
write in his book:


<< <i> The borders of the basin near the Barrier of St. Martin are planted with a double row of trees, forming an agreeable promenade in summer; boats are also used on the smooth and glassy surface of this fine sheet of water; and in winter, when frozen over, it is covered with multitudes of skaiters glancing along on the slippery keel in every direction. Before this fine sheet of water was constructed, the art of skaiting was but little known or practised in the metropolis of France. >>




So he made it possible for the French to later compete in the Olympics!

CIVITAS

Interesting medal. Is that a die defect on the obverse at K-5:30? I never would have guessed that they would strike so many of these medals that the die would have time to break down, unless of course it was poorly annealed or something to that effect.

elverno

The Latin legend obverse variety, of which this is one, developed the cud extremely early in the striking. I've only seen silver examples, which were struck before the bronze, without the cud. Still, the other variety of this medal, with the French legends, is more common and doesn't have the problem. When they re-engraved this obverse in the 1830's they fixed the error but of course then you're dealing with a re-strike... It's the way to ID an 1830-1842 bronze strike with Latin legends; since they didn't have edge-marks.

Edited because I can't spell...

Shipcoin

Elverno!

Looking to your amazing medals (especially that one, for example!!) , yesterday I found myself learned some book about medals and it seems to me , that next step will be.. that I'll ask my local coin-dealer to hold over for me not only shipcoins, but also shipmedals!

lordmarcovan

Gorgeous medal. Those ladies on the reverse have nice... er... jugs.

spoon

Reading about sports and then looking at the medal, it looked to me like the nekkid one on the right was kneeling with.. a football?

Another nice medal

farthing

laurentyvan

Formidable, mon ami! Napoleon never looked so good... Where does this medal stand in the pantheon of coins-hard to get?
Once again, a medal with wonderful patina-how accurate is the color?

Askari

Now there's one that's consistently gotten away from me! I think I've seen nice examples come up maybe twice and I was outsniped both times. Yours is very nicely struck up and in excellent condition!! Color me jealous.