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Great Britain - 1815

Deuxième restauration de Louis XVIII

Obverse:

Similar to No. 802.
No. 802: Conjoined laureate heads of the four Allied Sovereigns, right

Legend:

NVNQVAM VIDEBIMUS EIS SIMILES ITERVM. (We shall never see their like again).

Size:

48 mm.

Reverse:

Bare head of Louis XVIII, left.

Legend:

MON BUT EST LE BONHEUR DE MON PEUPLE 1815 (My goal is the happiness of my people).

Vern's Comments:

The copy of BHM I have does not list this medal in white metal. That's interesting in that it's either an oversight, which seems unlikely, or that this is a later strike. The arguments against a restrike are threefold and related. First, the subject. It's a topical medal, only really important in the period immediately after Waterloo. The Bourbons were dependent on the allies for an extremely brief period of time. They weren't likely to order up extras at a later date that emphasized that temporary dependency. Second, it has been holed for wear. Again, it was a brief historic period when wearing this as a sign of loyalty would have been appreciated. Finally, it was an English medal intended for French consumption. Again, it's unlikely that a significant number of Englishmen would want to wear this.

So, it's a bit of a mystery. It certainly appears as if it was produced at a time contemporary to the mentioned copper/bronze versions. If anyone can send me some enlightenment I'd appreciate it.

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 1686
Deuxième restauration de Louis XVIII. (Halliday.)

MON BUT EST LE BONHEUR DE MON PEUPLE. Bust de Louis XVIII, à gauche, à longs cheveux.

Revers comme le droit du N^o 1459.

Dessous: 1815

Médaille, 47 mm. - Inédite; cabinet de l'auteur.

BHM:

AE 48 by T. Halliday.
AE R.
BM.

The Bourbons were expelled from France in 1791 and in 1795 Louis XVIII assumed the royal title. In 1807 Louis took refuge in England, residing at Hartwell in Buckinghamshire. On the fall of Napoleon in 1814 Louis landed at Calais but the Bourbon restoration was short lived for on 1st March Napoleon landed with about 1,500 men, marched towards Paris and the king was deposed. After the final victory of the allied armies in 1815 Louis was again restored to the throne virtually as a nominee of the allies, and he entered Paris on the 8th July of that year.

from British Historical Medals, Volume 1, p. 216