Summary

Medal Ordine Della Corona de Ferro, 'Foundation of the Imperial Order of the Iron Crown', Issued by France & Italy, 1805
Artist: Jean Pierre Droz
Minted by Paris Mint

Obverse Description

Laureate head of Napoleon facing left; around, NAPOLEON EMPEREUR ET ROI; below, DROZ F.

Reverse Description

At centre, the image of the Order, a Crown with oval image of Napoleon at centre, on which, eagle facing with wings spread loop attached to its head; around above, ORDINE DELLA CORONA DI FERRO; in exergue, FONDATO LI / 5 GIUGNO 1805

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

"The Imperial Order of the Iron Crown was established June 5, 1805 by Napoleon Bonaparte (under his title of King Napoleon I of Italy). It took its name from the ancient Iron Crown of Lombardy, a medieval jewel with an iron ring, forged from what was supposed to be a nail from the True Cross as a band on the inside. This crown also gave its name to the Italian Order of the Crown. After the fall of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the order was reestablished as an Austrian order by the same name in 1815" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Iron_Crown

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