Here's a record of a silver one:
http://www.mcsearch.info/record.html?id=752946Sold for approximately $2584 US, but it also had the original case and looks to be in a bit better condition.
Some history:
From
A description of the series of medals struck at the National medal mint by order of Napoleon Bonaparte, commemorating the most remarkable battles and events during his dynasty. By Captain J. C. Laskey (1818) at
https://archive.org/details/descrip...er00laskialaPages 195-197
(in text for previous medal, but pertinent to this one):
The birth of this Prince, designated by the title of king of Rome, was announced to the city of Paris by the firing of cannon immediately on the accouchement of the Empress. All Paris was in anxious suspense, it being usual on the birth of a princess to fire a round of 21 guns, and on that of a prince 101 discharges, the anxiety of the populace waiting in silence, and counting the 21 discharges cannot be described : on the report being heard of the twenty-second gun, their rapture knew no bounds, and exclamations of Vive l'Empereur ! &c. filled the air in all directions ; the promenades, the streets, houses, and public assemblies were all full of people ; in fact, the whole population of Paris were at the moment silent, and absorbed in counting the number of the discharges. The powers of Europe on this occasion also sent the most distinguished persons of their courts to compliment the Emperor and Empress. The Emperor of Russia sent his minister of the interior, the Emperor of Austria, the Count Clary, one of the highest officers of the state, who was charged with a present for the young Prince of a diamond collar of all the orders of
the Austrian monarchy.
This medal was ordered to be struck at the national mint, to commemorate this great event. He was born on the 20th March, 1811.
--> [This medal is on page 196]196
No. CXXI.
BAPTEME DU ROI DE ROME.
Obverse -- Napoleon, whole length, standing, his head encircled with a laurel wreath, full dress, richly embroidered, the imperial mantle over his shoulders; he is holding the infant with both hands in an elevated situation, as if about to plunge him in an elegant font below ; on the top of the font is a Capenduncula, across which lies a branch of myrtle, also a small coffer or acerra, used for holding the incense, surmounted on the top with a cross ; against the plinth of the font rests a large book (the Bible), on the cover of which a cross; behind the Emperor, on the right, a chair of state, the front ornamented with the initial letter n within a laurel wreath. Legend, artist's name, ANDRIEU FECIT. Exergue, BAPTEME DU ROI DE ROME M.DCCCXI.
Reverse -- a double row of turret ted crowns, on each is marked the name of the cities be- longing to the Empire. On the field, A L'EMPEREUR LES BONNES VILLES DE L'EMPIRE.
Size, 2 11/16 inches.
This medal, commemorative of the baptism of the infant son of the Emperor Napoleon and Maria Louisa, needs no farther elucidation here, but to state the number of cities and towns on the reverse, which amount to forty-nine, viz. --
[here it lists all the cities in a table]
(i added picture with the unidentified hallmark)
Posted 07/22/2012 3:33 pm
