Summary
Medal Coronation of Napoleon as King of Italy in Milan, Issued by France & Milan, Italy, 1805
Artist: L. Manfredini
Minted by Milan Mint
Obverse Description
Laureate head of Napoleon facing left; around, NAPOLEON GALLORVM IMPERATOR ITALIAE REX; on neck truncation the artist's initials, L.M.
Reverse Description
At the centre, an altar on which is a copy of the Constitution; at right a standing turreted female figure (Italia) holding a cornucopia in her right hand and extending the Iron Crown in her left; at the right about to recieve the crown, the figure of Napoleon wearing a toga, his right hand points to the Constitution while he holds a sheathed sword in his left; in the field behind Italia, a helmet, behind Napoleon, winged caduceus; around above, VLTRO; in exergue, D . XXIII . MAII / A . MDCCCV.
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
"Bonaparte having assumed the title of Emperor of the Gauls, solicitations were sent from all parts of Italy, entreating him to take upon himself and his heirs the Italian diadem. On the 23rd of May, 1805, he was crowned at Milan with the greatest splendour and magnificence. Seated on a superb throne, he had on his right the honours of the empire, on his left, the honours of Italy, before him the honours of Charlemagne; he was invested with the usual insignia of royalty by the Cardinal Archbishop, and ascending the altar, he took the iron crown, and placing it on his head, exclaimed, being part of the ceremony used at the enthronement of the Lombard kings, "Dieu me la donne, gare a qui la touche;" God gives it me, beware those who touch it."
More Information
-
Collection Names
-
Collecting Areas
-
Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
-
Date Issued
1805 AD
-
Issued By
Napoleon Bonaparte, Milan, Italy
Artist's Initials: LM -
Artist
-
Series
-
Material
Bronze
-
Axis
12
-
Classification
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Dimensions
42 mm (Outside Diameter), 39.1 g (Weight)
-
Shape
Round
-
References
Edwards 105
-
Keywords