French Medal question

morganbarber

I have a large medal that I think my grandfather picked up during WWII. I believe it is French. What does "1Argent" on the rim mean? Thanks.

JoesMaName

My French is rusty but I thought the English translation of argent was money - but 1 money doesn't sound quite right...

farthing

Argent does translate to english as money.

Do you have a picture of the medal? Sounds interesting!

Stork

I think it refers to it being silver--does the medal appear to be silver?

Cathy

edited to add ... meaning that the medal is fully silver, and not silver plated bronze. The word argent means silver as well.

theboz11

Stork is correct. Your piece is silver

zeebob

Photo?

morganbarber

Sorry, I can's do the digital photo thing. Thanks for the replies. The piece is toned so jet black that it does not look like silver, but I guess could be. It's about three inches in diameter and weighs almost 5 1/2 ounces. The obverse has a Liberty looking chick. One arm holds with a long spear or pole, the other elbow rests on a short column. Leaning against the column is a shield. At the bottom of the pole is a rooster. The obverse says in big letters "prefecture De Police", and in smaller letters "vigilat ut quiescant". The reverse has what loks like a city block or so and the words "12 Mssidor A VIII fondation De La Prefecture De Police". My grandfather was exempt from the draft in WWII as a high ranking policeman, but joined to serve and to use his knowledge of law enforcement and scandinavian languages to help in Europe.

morganbarber

Also, the designor's name H. Dropsy can be read. I have looked at many pictures of Henri Dropsy medals on the internet, but nothing similar to my piece. Thanks again for any thoughts.

harasha

Sounds like silver, mid-19th century. Any possibility of a medalist's name, most likely at the bottom of the obverse?

morganbarber

Lastly, the reverse has a tiny coat of arms like this one, and with the same inscription Fluctuat nec mergitur