Summary

Portrait medal of Jean-Dominique Cassini, also known as Giovanni Domenico Cassini, (1625-1712) by Gatteaux. One of the Galerie Metallique des Grand Hommes Francais series. Minted in Paris, 1825.

Obverse Description

Bust facing right; around, J. DOMINIQ. CASSINI.; below in smaller lettering the artist's name, E. GATTEAUX.

Reverse Description

Legend in nine lines: NE / EN M.DC.XXV. / A PERINALDO / PRES NICE. / MORT / EN M.DCC.XII. / GALERIE METALLIQUE / DES GRAND HOMMES FRANCAIS. / 1825.

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Italian/French astronomer, engineer, map maker, mathematician and astrologer. Named after him are: the Cassini craters on the moon and Mars, the Cassini asteroid, Cassini division in Saturn's rings, the Casini-Huygens Saturn mission.

More Information