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France - 1815

Departure of Louis XVIII from Paris

Obverse
Obverse:
La discorde descendant d'une galère.
Legend:
DIES . VICESIMA . MARTII
Exergue:
JEUFFROY F. MDCCCXV.
Size:
50 mm.
Reverse
Reverse:
La France en deuil
In the field, ANDRIEU. F.
Exergue:
GALLIA

Vern's Comments:

This is apparently a royalist medal depicting France's sorrow at the departure of Louis XVIII before the arrival of Napoleon from Elba.

It's pretty straight forward propaganda actually. A somewhat slutty woman, in the midst of a bad hair day, named Discord, steps off the boat, kicks over 'Public Felicity' and probably immediately shouted "Where's the vino?"

On the other hand (the reverse actually) we have Mom, impeccably dressed, in the process of carefully protecting the fleur-de-lys from the ruffian off the boat. Mom is named Gallia and as such we realize that she is the true 'France' in this picture.

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 1603
Départ de Louis XVIII de Paris (Jeuffroy et Andrieu.)
DIES VICESIMA. MARTH. La Discorde, sa torche enflammée à la main, descendant d'une galère, renverse sous son pied un autel où on lit: FELIC. PUBL.
Rev: RECEDENTIS. PRINCIPIS. DESIDERIVM. La France en deuil, recouvre de son voile l'écusson au trois fleurs de lis, qu'elle tient sur un autel.
Exergue: MDCCCXV.
Exergue: GALLIA.
Médaille, 50 mm. - M. F. 425, 24.

d'Essling:

Size, 50 mm.