Summary

Medal le Tombeau de Desaix, 'Tomb of Desaix in Mount St. Bernard', Issued by France, 1805
Artist: Jean Pierre Droz and Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet
Minted by Paris Mint

Obverse Description

Head laureate facing left; around, NAPOLEON EMPEREUR.; below in small letters DENON DIR. DROZ. FECIT.

Reverse Description

Funeral monument erected to the memory of General Desaix, the bas relief represents the General fallen from his horse to the ground mortally wounded; on the plinth allegorical ornaments emblematic of his wisdom, foresight, and prudence; around, NAPOLEON AUX MANS DE DESAIX; in exergue, I ERE PIERRE POSEE PAR / L'EMPEREUR LE XXIV / PRAIRI AN XIII; the artists names on the base of the monument in small lettering, BRENET. F DENON . D

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

"General Desaix, to whose memory these medals were ordered to be struck by the French government, was killed in the moment of victory, at the celebrated battle of Marengo, by a musket ball which struck him in the head. " Laskey p. 90

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