France, Napoleon, c.1815.
Various diameters from 66mm to 138mm. By Bertrand Andrieu.
Set of 12 uniface, lead medals depicting various scenes from the French Revolution to the Premier Empire. Housed in two trays in the style of a book embossed to spine with 'Napoleon Medals – By Andrieu'.
This set is usually found in this form with 10 medals, however, this set has an additional two medals to the bottom tray, each medal being a uniface side of the 1811 Baptism of The King of Rome medal. This is the first of these sets we have seen with the 12 pieces.
One of the large 138mm medals (with conjoined busts) has a very narrow split between the inner rim and outer rim but is stable, otherwise the medals are generally better than Very Fine and all are loose from the fitted tray holes. The trays are in good order but the cover of the 'book' is detached and one side panel is out of position. Overall a most impressive and unusual set.