France. An Early & Scarce Medal For The Dedication Of The Bastille Monument, C.1792

An early and highly desirable medal in detailed five-piece construction, two die-stamped silvered iron disks placed back-to-back, magnetic, fabricated from chains from the Bastille, the disks with a pad in between, each plate with a gilt copper plate with a voided centre on the perimeter, the four aforementioned pieces secured in place via a copper ring along the outer edge with raised rims on both sides, obverse disk illustrating a column placed on a pedestal, representing the Bastille, and surmounted by a statue of Liberty, the monument raised on rocks, in the center of a circular square surrounded by buildings, the surrounding gilt copper plate inscribed ""MONUMENT DÉDIÉ À LA NATION PRESENTE A L'ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE AU ROI DES FRANCAIS ET AUX 83 DEPARTEMENS"", reverse inscribed ""CE METAL PROVIENT DES CHAINES DE L'ANCIENNE SERVITUDE DU PEUPLE FRANCAIS QUE LOUIS XVI A FAIT BRISER / LE 14 JUILLET 1789"", the surrounding gilt copper plate inscribed ""CETTE MEDAILLE REMISE AU ROI EN MAY LAN / IIII DE LA LIBERTE PAR PALLOY PATRIOTE"", 72.8 mm, surface rust evident on both silvered iron disks, minor gilt wear on the outer copper ring, near extremely fine.

Footnote: This medal is mentioned at length in the 1826 publication ""Historie Numismatique de Revlution Francaise"" on page 244. 

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.