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France - 1804

La Légion d`Honneur

Obverse:

Head of Napoleon, encircled by a laurel wreath.

Exergue:

ANDRIEU F.

Size:

40 mm.

Reverse:

the cross of the order, in the centre of which the eagle of France stands on the fulmen of Jove, encircled with a flat ring, on which the motto, HONNEUR . ET . PATRIE. is impressed. A wreath of the branches of oak and laurel, with their fruit, surrounds the cross behind.

Legend:

AUSPICE . NEAPOLEONE . GALLIA . RENOVATA.

Exergue:

DENON DIR^T. JALEY F^T.

Laskey:

The whole is of inimitable workmanship, and highly creditable to the artist.

Napoleon having been elected First Consul for life, immediately marked his great event by instituting the order of the Legion of Honour, which, by joining personal decoration with pecuniary stipend, answered two purposes, that of reconciling the people of France to the restoration of artificial rank in society, and also or securing to Napoleon himself the personal attachment of all those connected with the institution; in short it was a cheap, but efficacious mode of giving bribes to all ranks both in military and civil life, and therefore likely to be attended with the best consequences to his own popularity.

On this occasion, Joseph Bonaparte, the Consul's brother, was made the grand officer of the order.

It was also decreed that the legion should be composed of fifteen cohorts, and a council of administration; that each cohort should consist of seven grand officers, twenty commandants, thirty officers, and 350 legionaries; and that the First Consul should always be the chief of the legion, and of the council of administration. The members were to be military men, who had distinguished themselves in the war, or citizens, who, by their knowledge, talents, and virtues, had contributed to establish or defend the republic.

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 310 Légion d'Honneur. (Jaley.)
Tête laurée de Napoléon, à droite.	Rev: AUSPICE NEAPOLEONE GALLIA. RENOVATA. La décoration de l'ordre de la Légion d'Honneur avec l'aigle et l'inscription: HONNEUR. ET. PATRIE.
L'ordre de la Légion d'Honneur fut institué le 19 mai 1802 pour récompenser les services militaires et civils. L'inauguration de cette institution et la première distribution des décorations eut lieu à l'église des Invalides, le 15 juillet 1804.
Médaille, 40 mm. - T. N. 1, 5; H. m. 31, 78; M. F. 346, 2.

d'Essling:

d'Essling - 1013 Inauguration de la Légion d'honneur (Andrieu et Jaley).
Buste lauré de Nap. à dr.	R. AUSPICE NAPOLEONE GALLIA RENOVATA. Croix de la Légion d'Honneur.
(TN 1.5 - M. 78 - B. 310). Arg. et br. 41 mm.