Exonumia Auction - Maine Antique Digest

Miscellaneous Tokens and MedalsFrench heroine in armor, JEANNE D’ARC to either side. It issigned H. CHAPU 1868 on the truncation (which is 1 ½” high.)and bears the incused signature, “F. Barbedienne, “Fondeur” intiny letters at bottom left.Chapu’s renowned statue of Jeanne d’Arc at Dorémy was presentedat the Salon in 1870, the plaster cast was made into a marble statuein 1872 and enjoyed a considerable success. It is now displayed atthe Musée d’Orsay. The plaster for this medallic piece, but withthe additional legend, “SOUVENIR DE LA DELIVERANCE DEMELUN – AVRIL 1430”, is in the Musée Chapu, Le Mee, Seineet-Marne.We have previously sold two similar Chapu Joan of Arcplaques at auction, one with the 1868 date and one without. Themost recent was an example of the undated version in AU whichsold for $1495.00 in our 2011 Auction Eighty One.Lot 398Bryant was an American die-sinker located in Lima. He did atleast two medals for Meiggs commemorating his railroads. Fromour 2001 Marcus Collection Sale, #672, where it brought $207.00.(G)Lot 397 (reduced)397. JOAN OF ARC PORTRAIT PLAQUE, 1868. 229.6mm (9”)with integral loop at top, as made. Cast. Bronze.. Extremely Finewith a tiny void on the chest below center. Design as above butunsigned by either sculptor or foundry. It is an apparent aftercastof the Chapu plaque above. (G)398. INAUGURATION OF THE CENTRAL TRANS-ANDESRAILROAD SECTION FROM CALLAO TO LA OROYA,1870. 50.5mm. Silver. (2.2 oz.) C.E. Bryant, Sc. AboutUncirculated. At the center of the obverse is a view of an oldsteam locomotive and cars entering a town; the Andes Mountainsin the background. A two line Spanish language legend statesthe route of the section; the name of the Chief Engineer, E(rnest)Malinowsky and the contractor, Henry Meiggs. The reversebears a two-line legend stating that the medal was blessed by theVery Honorable Mr. Arzo of Lima on the 10th of January, 1870.The central portion contains a long listing of national and localgovernment officials.H110Henry Meiggs, an American, was the visionary creator of one ofthe most audacious railroads in the world. He left the United Statesunder a financial cloud and went to Chile, where he was activebuilding railroads. When he again got into financial difficulty, hewent to Peru where he entered into contracts with the governmentfor the construction of no less than eight different rail lines. C.E.Lot 399399. INAUGURATION OF THE TRANS-ANDES RAILROAD