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France - 1803

La Fortune Conservatrice

Obverse:

Bust of Bonaparte, marked with a strong resemblance to that of Augustus Caesar as seen on his coins;

Exergue:

under the head, BRENET . DENON DIREXIT.

Size:

34 mm.

Reverse:

the allegorical figure of Fortune Conservatrix; she is seated on the aft part of a boat, guiding it with her right hand by a rudder of antique form; with her left she holds the corner of the sail, which is attached to a mast of a very simple form, over which is the star of destiny so often alluded to by Bonaparte.

Legend:

A LA FORTUNE CONSERVATRICE.

Exergue:

BRENET L'AN 4. DE BONAPARTE.

Vern's Comments:

There seems to be an unfinished story on this medal. That is, Brenet or Denon(?)? Notice the faint name above and to the left of "Bonaparte" on the reverse? This looks like Denon, a name that often shows up on French medals of the period. Maybe they were feuding...

Note: It appears here that the d'Essling catalog is describing both Bramsen 275 and 276, a situation that confused me for quite a while. This is Bramsen 275, not explicitly mentioned in the description above but clearly (to me) the medal described. The variation described at the end, "couronne de fleurs" matches the description for Bramsen 276.

Laskey:

This medal requires no farther elucidation than what it presents on its own face, the evident good fortune that had attended Napoleon during the first four years of his reign. The resemblance to the head of Augustus which the medal bears, is in allusion to the supposed likeness of that Emperor to Bonaparte. In several of the addresses to the Emperor, this character is recognised.

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 275
La Fortune conservatrice (Brenet)

Tête de Napoléon, à gauche.

Rev: A LA FORTUNE CONSERVATRICE. La Fortune, à droite, assise sur un vaisseau, tenant le gouvernail et la voile, dirige en prenant pour guide l'étoile de Napoléon.

Exergue: L'AN 4 DE BONAPARTE.

Médaille, 34 mm. - T. N. 95, 6; H. m. 16, 72; M. F. 345, 147.

d'Essling:

d'Essling - 999 Préparatifs de l'expédition contre l'Angleterre (Brenet)
Tête de Bonaparte à g.	R. A LA FORTUNE CONSERVATRICE. La Fortune ass. sur un vaisseau, tenant la voile et le gouvernail.
(TN. 95.6 - M. 72 - B. 276) Arg. et br. 2 var. dont une avec couronne de fleurs et de feuillage à l'avers. 34 mm.