Caution: Napoleonic Masonic medals follow!

elverno

My connection for Masonic medals delivered the last of his horde today.



1 - 1806 Loge de la Clemente Amitie
2 - 1804 Loge du Phoenix
3 - 1811 Loge de St. Jean
4 - 1813 Loge des H.H.H. du Havre
5 - 1808 Loge d'Isis
6 - 1789 Loge des Amis de la Paix

elverno

And here's the reverses:

1jester

Really cool medals, Vern!!! Thanks for sharing.

I suppose we can infer from this that Napoleon was a Mason....?

laurentyvan

Nice when you get six of something you really wanted at one time.

I really like the 1806 Loge de la Clemente Amitie-especially the reverse, and the obverse of the 1808 Loge d'Isis. I'd like to see number five enlarged-really nice obverse imagery.

Hmmmm, always wanted to tap into a hoard but never found one; nice source!

Clankeye

Those are really interesting, Eleverno.

Now, that's something my wife could get into collecting. She is very interested in the Masons and other "secret" societies.

Thanks for showing them to us.

Clankeye

cosmicdebris

I like the one with the Eagle on it

elverno

As far as these things are 'officially' known Napoleon was a Mason. I couldn't tell you what Lodge he was made in, haven't done that much investigation. I do know that he had an extensive collection of Masonic medals, many of which made their way into the hands of his descendant Prince Victor Napoleon. The Prince collected many more and they were dispersed at the 1972 Bank Leu sale of the Prince's collection. I'm told that David Bowers bought them there and years later they ended up in the hands of my dealer in New York, Paul Bosco.

Numbers 3 and 4 were from the Prince's collection. 2 and 5 are both "doubtful". Two may have been cast, it's very difficult to tell from the medal itself even under a 10x loupe. It may just have been a poor planchet to begin with. Five is struck either from lead or from Type metal (the alloy used to make movable type). While lead was used in trial strikes in the Napoleonic era the type metal was used slightly later. Number six is an upgrade to one already on my site. And number one is just scarce as hen's teeth! Integral loops seldom survive from the period much less the original triangular second loop. You used the second loop to string the medal on something like a silk ribbon, and then wore it around your neck.

I love it when it all comes at once (I hate waiting...)

CIVITAS

Nice medals. I'm partial to #3 and #6. I like that "milled coin" look that they have.

Coincracker

Nice, I like #6

Clankeye

TTT-- just because I think these are really interesting, and think more people should see them.

clankeye

MacCrimmon

I'll vote for the 'Eagle", too. Nice run of medals!