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France - 1804

Construction des deux mille Barques

Obverse:

Head of Napoleon, encircled with a laurel wreath.

Legend:

NAPOLEON EMPEREUR.

Exergue:

I.P. DROZ F.

Size:

40 mm.

Reverse:

Hercules strangling the Nemæan lion.

Legend:

EN L'AN. XII. 2000 BARQUES SONT CONSTRUITES.

Exergue:

DENON DIREXIT 1804.

Laskey:

After the short peace of scarcely fourteen months which followed the Treaty of Amiens, and which had promised tranquillity to Europe, the renewal of hostilities between France and Great Britain involved in fresh calamities all the nations in this quarter of the globe.

The invasion of Great Britain at this time appeared to be the grand object of the first Consul, who, immediately on the commencement of hostilities, began to make extensive preparations for that purpose in the ports of the French and Batavian republics. All the ship and boat-builders in France, from the age of 15 to 60, were placed in a state of requisition; and it was decreed by Napoleon, that 2000 vessels should be immediately built, for the purpose of transporting the Army of England to the place of its destination, and he appointed Boulogne as the general rendezvous both for the flotilla and the army.

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 320 Camp de Boulogne (J. P. Droz.)
NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Tête laurée, à droite.	Rev: EN L'AN XII 2000 BARQUES SONT CONSTRUITES. Hercules, tenant entre ses jambes le léopard anglais, qu'il se dispose à enchaîner.
	Exergue: DENON DIREXIT 1804.
Médaille, 40 mm. - T. N. 2, 7; H. m. 30, 81; M. F. 347, 4.

d'Essling:

d'Essling - 1019 Camp de Boulogne (Droz).
Tête laurée de Nap. à dr.	R. EN L'AN XII 2000 BARQUES SONT CONSTRUITES. Hercule tenant entre ses jambes le léopard anglais.
(TN. 2.7 - M. 81 - B. 320) Arg. et br. 41 mm. 3 p. (2 var.)