Summary

Portrait medal of Pierre Fermat (1601-1665) by Antonoine Desboeufs. One of the Galerie Metallique des Grand Hommes Francais series. Minted in Paris, 1822.

Obverse Description

Bust facing left; around, PIERRE FERMAT.; below in smaller lettering the artist's name, DESBOUEFS, F.

Reverse Description

Legend in eight lines: NE / A TOULOUSE /EN MDC.XCV. / MORT / EN M.DC.LXI / GALERIE METALLIQUE / DES GRAND HOMMES FRANCAIS. / 1822.

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Pierre Fermat, French mathematician. His date of birth is contested: this medal gives 1595, others sources give 17 Aug 1601 (with his baptism 20 August 1601) while his tombstone records 1608.

Galerie Metallique Des Grands Hommes Francais: a large series of portrait medals produced in France beginning in 1816, by leading medallists of the day. At least 119 people were honoured.

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