Summary

Medal Le Simplon 'The Simplon', Issued by Napoleon Bonaparte (Emperor Napoleon I), France, 1807
Artists: Bertrand Andrieu and Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet
Minted by Paris Mint

Obverse Description

Laureate head facing right; around, NAPOLEON EMP. ET ROI.; on neck truncation, ANDRIEU F.

Reverse Description

A sitting colossal figure of a mountain-god; his right leg is thrown across his left thigh, the foot of which rests on the pinnacle top of a smaller mountain beneath; his left foot is placed on the fore-ground, at the base of the mountain, which is washed by rapid waters; his arms are supported on the tops of lofty mountain peaks; from the base ascends a winding path, whereon is seen an army with its whole material ascending the craggy steep, and winding its way by a path, up the right arm of the figure, on which are seen the advanced guard; on the base of the mountain, 1807; at left above the exergue line, BR; in exergue, SIMPLON

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

"By a decree of the 12th November, Napoleon united to the French Empire, the territory of the Valais, under the name of the department of Simplon, a name derived from one of the mountains of the Alps, situate on the side of Great St. Bernard, Mont Blanc is on the other: these three great mountain masses are all recorded by the medals of Napoleon.- (See Nos. 12 and 34.) The pretexts for this annexation were, that the Simplon, connecting France and Italy, had cost both treasuries eighteen millions of livres; that the Valais had not adhered to its engagements; and that it was necessary to put an end to the struggles for power among the population." Laskey p. 153-154

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