Summary

Portrait medal of Jean-Baptist Poquelin known as Moliere (1622-1673). One of the Galerie Metallique des Grand Hommes Francais series. Minted in Paris, 1816.

Obverse Description

Head facing left; around, POQUELIN DE MOLIERE; below in smaller lettering the artist's name, GAYRARD F.

Reverse Description

Legend in eight lines: NE / A PARIS / EN M.DC.XX. / MORT / EN M.DC.LXXIII. / GALERIE METALLIQUE / DES GRAND HOMMES FRANCAIS. / 1816.

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Jean-Baptist Poquelin de Moliere was a French playwright and comic actor. He is best known by his stage name Moliere. The year after this medal was produced his body was transferred to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris after originally being buried at night in a part of a cemetary reserved for unbaptised children (actors were not permitted to be buried in sacred ground but the King gave him a special dispensation).

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.

More Information