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France - 1810

Marriage of Napoleon I and Marie Louise

Obverse
Obverse:
Têtes accolées à dr.
Legend:
NAPOLEO M. I. ET R. AUG. MARIA ALOUSIA I. ET R. AUG.
Exergue:
Sculptor, L. MANFREDINI F.
Size:
43 mm.
Reverse
Reverse:
L'Hymen chassant devant lui le Dieu Mars.
Legend:
SAEVUM PROCUL MARTEM FELIX TEDA RELEGAT.
Exergue:
A. MDCCCX

Vern's Comments:

 
In his quest for an heir Napoleon put aside the sometimes faithless Josephine and moved quickly to secure a marriage with one of the premiere princesses of Europe. He was rebuffed on his initial attempt to join the Russian imperial family. Never one to wait he turned to the Habsburgs and arranged to marry Marie Louise. The Russians were embarrassed and insulted by Napoleon's pragmatism and it helped continue the deterioration of relations between the two powers.
 
This piece is one of only the few I have that's been 'slabbed' or put into a plastic holder to protect it from greasy fingers. On the front it has the same title as above and on the back the year and the phrase "Running from marriage vows into exile."
 

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 961
Mariage à Paris avec Marie-Louise. (L. Manfredini.)
NAPOLEO M. I. ET R. AUG. MARIA ALOUSIA I. ET R. AUG. Têtes accolées, à droite, Napoléon avec la couronne de fer, Marie-Louise avec le diadème.
Rev: SAEVUM PROCUL MARTEM FELIX TEDA (!) RELEGAT. Hymen, armé d'une torche, chasse devant lui Mars.
Exergue: A. MDCCCX.
Médaille, 43 mm. - T. N. 39, 10; H. m. 46, 258; M. F. 388, 153.

d'Essling: