Summary

Portrait medal of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) (c. 1412-1431) by Joseph Domard. One of the Galerie Metallique des Grand Hommes Francais series. Minted in Paris, 1823.

Obverse Description

Armored bust facing left; around, JEANNE D'ARC; below bust in smaller lettering the artist's name, DOMARD F.

Reverse Description

Legend in eight lines: NEE / A DONREMY / EN M.CCCC.XI /MORTE / EN M.CCCC.XXXI. / GALERIE METALLIQUE / DES GRAND HOMMES FRANCAIS. / 1823.

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

French folk heroine and Roman Catholic saint. A peasant from eastern France, she claimed divine guidance and led the French army to several victories during the Hundred Years' War with England. She was captured by the Burgundians, ransomed to the English. She was put on trial by the pro-English Bishop of Beauvais on charges of "insubordination and heterodoxy" and was burned at the stake for heresy.

Galerie Metallique Des Grands Hommes Francais: a large series of portrait medals produced in France beginning in 1819, by leading medallists of the day. At least 119 people were honoured.

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