Coronation of Napoleon - just awful!

elverno

This is a remarkably ugly, crudely made medal struck at the time of Napoleon's coronation in 1804. I have another of these that is more typical of the condition they show up in; it's almost smooth, disfigured by tin pest and has 3 ghastly holes in it.



It's Bramsen 334 and was struck only in tin.

lordmarcovan

I wouldn't say "awful", but considering the quality of some of its contemporary pieces, it does look a bit primitive. Tin seems a wretched choice of material.

That has a neat look to it, though- I rather like it. The softness of the strike and the execution of the lettering and other details would have made me guess it was a 17th century piece if I didn't have the inscriptions and other clues to work from.

lordmarcovan

Oh- speaking of poor metallic choices, I have a George V and Queen Mary coronation medal a forum member gave me- I suppose it's pewter. It's holed at the top, of course, which is why it was given to me. This medal has an absolutely gorgeous design on the reverse. I was going to carry it as a keychain piece but it soon got very scuffy and slightly bent, so I took it off before it got messed up any worse. (It won't go on my vest since it's post-1900). I guess there was a lot of lead in whatever alloy it's made of. Seems strange to strike a medal in a material so soft that you could bend it in your hand.

Sylvestius

Oww owww owww! Tin!!! I like it, i like it, i like it!

How much was it?

(no seriously i must get one one day i've got a thing about tin coins).

Steve27

Now it has LordM drool on it as well.

Aethelred

Were those issued in other metals Elverno?

MSD61

About the medal in this thread:
2nd December, 1804.
The Emperor Napoleon. R. Napoleon crowned at Paris.
NAPOLEON * EMPEREUR * DES * FRANCAIS. (Napoleon, Emperor of the French.) Napoleon crowned, and in grand imperial costume, holding the sceptre and the hand of Justice.
R. NAPOLEON . SACRE . A . PARIS (Napoleon consecrated at Paris.) Napoleon, in grand imperial costume, kneeling before the Pope, who places his hand on the Emperor's head. On the left is a mitred prelate, and on the right, two priests; at the further end, the altar. Exergue: LE . II . F . AN . XIII . (The 11th Frimaire, year XIII.). [Tin. 42"]

This info came from this interesting site about Napoleon medals. Hope you enjoy it
Nepaleon medals

elverno

The one you see above cost me 30 euros while the first one I described was part of a lot of six different medals in similar shape for 20 euros. As far as metals the example in the Milan collection is listed as being struck in lead but that's a fairly common mistake even by experienced catalogers. It's possible that piece was a trial strike of course...