Summary

Medal Orphelines de la Legion d'Honneur, 'Orphans of the Legion of Honour', Issued by France, 1810
Artist: Bertrand Andrieu and Alexis J. Depaulis.
Minted by Paris Mint

Obverse Description

Laureate head facing right; around, NAPOLEON EMP. ET ROI.; on neck truncation, ANDRIEU F.

Reverse Description

A young female seated facing right at the foot of a tombstone which bears the insignia of the Legion of Honour; on her lap lies a closed book on which her hand rests; over the tomb a laurel tree spreads his branches, from which a wreath is suspended; in the background at right a basket sewing materials; near rim at left and right in small lettering, DENON D. and DEPAULIS F.; in exergue, ORPHELINES DE LA LEGION / D'HONNEUR / MDCCCX

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

"Napoleon having established an Asylum for the female orphans of those who had received the honorable insignia of the Legion of Honour, the establishment was endowed and fixed in the Rue Barbette, No. 2, at Paris, under the name of the Maison Royale des Orphelines de la Legion d'Honneur: here 300 girls are educated by the sect of religious women, designated by the name of Dames de la Mere de Dieu." Laskey p. 192 (written in 1818)

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