France, Revolutionary Period. A Storming Of The Bastille Commemorative Medal 1789

In pewter, uniface style, obverse illustrating a crowd of armed civilians with soldiers of the French Guard firing their cannons at the Bastille in the background, with smoke and flames visible on the battlements and smoke across the centre enveloping the crowd, the chains of the drawbridge broken and the inner courtyard being stormed at the far right, engraver marked "ANDRIEU. F." (Jean-Bertrand Andrieu) and marked "NO. 1", inscribed "SIEGE DE LA BASTILLE" (Siege of the Bastille) above and "PRISE PAR LES CITOYENS DE LA VILLE DE PARIS LE 14 J.uet 1789" (Taken by the Citizens of the City of Paris July 14, 1789) below, museum marked on the reverse, measuring 85.8 mm in diameter, die-hole placed at the top for suspension, nicks evident on the raised rim and edge, near extremely fine.

Footnote: On the morning of July 14, 1789, a crowd advanced on the Bastille, the state prison. Their intention was to ask the governor to release the prisoners (there were only seven) and weapons in the building. The governor was evasive and the people stormed the fortress. The medal vividly captures the scene, showing the garrison firing onto the crowd pouring into the building over the broken drawbridge and the National Guard opening a breach in the wall. The revolutionary government subsequently demolished the Bastille, reinforcing the idea of overturning the old order and the beginning of the "era of liberty".