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
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1816 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
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Artist
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Person Depicted
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Series
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Material
Bronze
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
42 mm (Outside Diameter), 34.42 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round