Summary

Portrait medal of Jacques de Vaucanson (1709-1782) by Gatteaux. One of the Galerie Metallique des Grand Hommes Francais series. Minted in Paris, 1820.

Obverse Description

Bust facing left; around, JAQUES DE VAUCANSON; below in smaller lettering the artist's name, PINGRET.F

Reverse Description

Legend in eight lines: NE / A GRENOBLE / EN M.DCC.IX. / MORT / EN M.DCC.LXXXII. / GALERIE METALLIQUE / DES GRAND HOMMES FRANCAIS. / 1820.

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

French inventor who developed automata, a 'Digesting Duck' is considered his masterpiece, and machines such as the first completely automated loom using punch-card technology

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