Summary

Medal commemorating Napoleon Bonaparte's original grave on St Helena, Memorial de St. Helene, France,1840 AD. The artist was A. Bovy.

Mint: not recorded.

Napoleon was exiled on St Helena, a British-held island in the South Atlantic Ocean, from 15 October 1815 until his death in 1821. His remains were originally buried in Ruperts Valley on St Helena, but were later transferred to a tomb in Les Invalides in Paris, France.

There are connections between Napoleon's exile and the Balcombe family, who were associated with The Briars property in Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia.

Physical Description

Round bronze coin. The obverse bears a bust of Napoleon facing left, wearing a military uniform with decorations, inscription around, artist's name below. The reverse depicts a rural hillside with a fenced enclosure in the foreground. There is a sentry box and sentry at the gate. Within the enclosure there is another fenced enclosure which was Napoleon's original grave. Trees overhang this memorial. Inscription in border around.

Obverse Description

Bust of Napoleon facing left, wearing a military uniform with decorations; Around: NAPOLEON EMPEREUR; below: A. BOVY

Reverse Description

Rural scene with trees and fenced enclosure in the foreground. Within the enclosure there is a grave; Around: MEMORIAL DE STE. HELENE. 5 MAI MDCCCXXI . PARIS 15 DEC. MDCCCXL

Edge Description

Plain

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