Exonumia Auction - Maine Antique Digest

of the flans and others with different molds. This appears to befrom the same mold as the Fuld Plate medal which Stacks recentlysold (Almost extremely fine) for $161.00. (E)Lot 1566 (reduced)1566. BOIS DURCI PLAQUE OF NAPOLEON III, ND. 113mm. BlackBois Durci. Near mint condition with a very minor obverse edgechip at 8:00. Obverse bust to the left surrounded by the legend:NAPOLEON III EMPERUER 1859. The reverse is inscribed inraised script: BOIS DURCI.Writing in the American Numismatic Society Magazine, curatorRobert Wilson Hoge stated, “ Bois durci is a substance madeof powdered wood (normally either ebony or rosewood) mixedwith an adhesive compound—usually blood, originally, or eggwhite or gelatin. This mixture was then dried and ground to a fineconsistency; the resulting powder was then placed in a steel mouldand compressed in a powerful hydraulic press while being heatedby steam. The final product had a highly polished finish—typicallydark brown or black—imparted by the surface of the steel mould.Its “secret process” was patented by an artist named LePage, inParis, in 1855.”“These interesting items constitute an appealing series of Victoriandecorative arts objects (about 80 kinds are known) dating from thelate 1850s to the 1890s. Looking like medallions but being nonmetallic,bois durci pieces have not been necessarily classifiedas “numismatic” by scholars or collectors. The artists of theseworks are unknown, although they featured high-quality portraitsof personalities living and dead, and their creations would certainlybe considered as medallic sculptures in the art world of today.Unfortunately, as far as we have been able to determine, there areno examples of bois durci works in the ANS cabinet.” (F)1567. LAFAYETTE PORTRAIT MEDAL, 1824. LA 1824.5. 46.5mm.Bronze. Francois Caunois, Sc. Chocolate AU. Obv: Bust right,GENERAL LAFAYETTE around. Rx: THE DEFENDER/ OFAMERICAN AND/ FRENCH LIBERTY/ 1777-1824/ BORN INCHIVANIAC/ 1758 within an oak wreath. Struck in response toLafayette’s grand tour of the U.S. in 1824. (D)1567A. HOMMAGE TO LAFAYETTE, 1830. Fuld LA.1830.42 var.24.3mm. Uniface Gilt Brass shell. Unc. Obv: Civilian bust right,HOMMAGE A LAFAYETTE 1830 around within a sunken innercircle, The border is decorated with a floral wreath. (E)1567B. COMPLETION OF THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE, 1836. Collignon1107. 52.4mm. Chocolate Bronze. Jean Pierre Montagny, Sc.Plain Edge. (Paris Mint) About Uncirculated, minor field marks.Obverse with facing busts of Napoleon Bonaparte and King Louis-Lot 1567 (reduced)Philippe. The legend above reads: DIEU PROTÉGÉ LA FRANCE.Below the bust of Napoleon is the date 1806 (when the building ofthe Arc de Triomphe was started) and beneath the bust of Louis-Philippe, 1836 (when it was completed.) The reverse displays afront-on view of the completed Arch and the legend, A L’ARMEEFRANCAISE. (F)1568. “LE PETIT MARSEILLAIS” ART NOUVEAU PLAQUE, ND. 44x 69mm. Bronze. Gustave Martin, Sc. (Paris Mint. CornucopiaBRONZE edgemark.) Choice AU. Obv: A winged youth holding aquill pen stands to the left of a jagged cartouche bearing the armsof Marseilles and the inscription 1868/ LE PETIT MARSAILLAIS.In the upper background is a coastal view of the city. Rx: Arectangular cartouche. Half a world globe and five coats of armsat top and below a aerial view of the French coast. At bottom, afolded paper inscribed MARSEILLAIS. La Petit Marseillais as apopular French newspaper founded in 1868. (C-D)1569. “ALLIANCE FRANCAISE” MEDAL, (1898). CGI 3:172B. 68mm.Bronze. Jean-Baptiste Daniel Dupuis, Sc. (Paris Mint CornucopiaBRONZE edgemark.). About Uncirculated with a few minor spots..The obverse features a seated female personification of Franceteaching the alphabet to a group of youngsters gathered abouther who are representative of the various French colonial ethnicgroups. The four depicted are Arab, Indochinese, African andPolynesian. The reverse legend reads: ALLIANCE FRANCAISEabove an open book on which is superimposed a cartoucheinscribed: FEDERATION/ DEL ALLIANCE FRANCAISE/ AUXETATS-UNISThis medal was struck in both 68mm and 50mm sizes. It wassometimes used by high schools in this country as a prize medalfor the study of French. (D)1570. L’HISTOIRE, MONNAIE DE PARIS MEDAL, 1900. CGI 3:172-D.50.4mm. Bronze. Jean Daniel-Dupuis, Sc. (Paris Mint.) ChoiceAbout Uncirculated. Obverse: Robed female figure of Historyseated on a cloud inscribed with the date 1900 on a tablet. Asmall child to the right helps hold the tablet. Rx: MONNAIE DEPARIS around scene of a nude cherub holding a torch, symbolicof the future, leaning against a coin press. Balance scale artisticimplements etc. at his feet. A charming art nouveau style medal.(E)1571. ANOTHER, of the same. XF, with some scattered spots. (C)213H