Summary

Medal 'Coronation of Napoleon as King of Italy in Milan', Issued by Milan, Italy & France, 1805
Artist: Luigi 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."

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