Sunday, December 16, 2012

NAPOLEONIC BRONZE MEDAL. THE INFERNAL MACHINE.




NAPOLEONIC BRONZE MEDAL. THE INFERNAL MACHINE. AD 1800. BRAMSEN 76. XF. BRONZE 50.5 MM. MID 20TH CENTURY RE-STRIKE.

This medal commemorates Napoleon's survival of an assasination attempt on Christmas Eve 1800 when a massive bomb made from a barrel filled with gunpoweder and shrapnel placed on a wagon exploded outside of Haydn's opera Creation just seconds after Napoleon has passed by.  It is estimated that 52 people were either killing or wounding by this device that became known as the Infernal Machine.

Date : The orginal of this medal was dated  "3 Nivose AN 9" with is in AD 1800.  But this example is a later re-strike, stamped on the edge with "BRONZE" and the mark of the Paris medals mint.  I believe it was probably struck in the 1950's or 60's.

Reference : Bramsen #67.
Size :  67.6 mm.  Weight : 152.25 grams

Grade : UNC with a golden brown color.

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