Summary

Medal Building of 2000 Barques, Issued by France, 1804
Artist: Jean Pierre Droz
Mint not recorded

Obverse Description

Laureate head of Napoleon facing right; around, NAPOLEON EMPEREUR.; below head in small lettering, DENON DIR / J. P. DROZ F.

Reverse Description

Hercules standing facing left strangling the Nemaean lion with a rope; around, EN L'AN XII 2000 BARQUES SONT CONSTRUITES. ; in exergue, DENON DIREXIT. / 1804

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

"The invasion of Great Britain at this time appeared to be the grand object of the first Consul, who, immediately on the commencement of hostilities, began to make extensive preparations for that purpose in the ports of the French and Batavian republics. All the ship and boat-builders in France, from the age of 15 to 60, were placed in a state of requisition; and it was decreed by Napoleon, that 2000 vessels should be immediately built, for the purpose of transporting the Army of England to the place of its destination, and he appointed Boulogne as the general rendezvous both for the flotilla and the army." Laskey p. 73

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