Finally, a matched pair!
elverno
Posts: 1,068 ✭
I've posted the 2nd of these before but wanted to let you see them together. These were struck as identifying medals for a small group of men, about 25, that made up the executive counsels of two late Directorate period (French - 1799) legislative bodies. They were the Ancients and the 500. The two medals you see were produced about 100 years apart. Hennin 926 (The Ancients) is a post-1880 restrike, probably dating from the late 1890s. Henning 927, seen here before, is an original. As you can see it's very difficult simply looking at these medals to tell the restrike from the original. That's because whenever possible the Paris mint restrikes using the original dies. The edge mark on the 926 is the only way to determine that it's a restrike.
The Ancients, Hennin 926, 33mm
Even as a restrike this is a remarkably rare piece.
The 500, Hennin 927, 33mm
Population was originally about 25 pieces. I have no idea how many surviving.
The Ancients, Hennin 926, 33mm
Even as a restrike this is a remarkably rare piece.
The 500, Hennin 927, 33mm
Population was originally about 25 pieces. I have no idea how many surviving.
0
Comments
Cool and rare.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
09/07/2006
FOR SALE Items
Collecting Penguins, Named Ship Coins and other assorted goodies
Looking for Circulated coins of Papua New Guinea
stores.ebay.com/Grumpy's-Cave
Shep
<< <i>How long did it take you to find the match? >>
About fifteen years from finding the first. Obviously I'm still looking for an original of the Anciens medal but you can see why I jumped when the restrike was listed. This is one of the few medals I just paid the price on. Usually I'll regretfully watch them go to new homes when the prices climb out of my range but this has been on my "must have" list for many years. They're the only pentagonal medals I'm aware of from the 1789-1821 period, and I've actually never seen another in that shape though I'm sure they exist.
You want how much?!!
NapoleonicMedals.org
(Last update 3/6/2007)