medal
- Museum number
- 1898,0102.26
- Description
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Struck bronze medal. (whole)
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Bust of Napoleon I, left, in uniform of the First Consul. (obverse)
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Inscription in ten lines. (reverse)
- Production date
- 1800
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 49.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- As Antony Griffiths describes in part two of his three part essay, 'The Origins of Napoleon's Histoire Metallique', this medal, produced to commemorate the attempted assassination of Napoleon on 24 December 1800 was designed in a hurry, as suggested by both the simplicity of its design and the inscription on the reverse, which was, as Griffiths suggests, most likely authored by Napoleon himself given its distinctive rhetorical style. The effect then of this medal is akin to that of one of Napoleon's famous bulletins: it was a direct announcement to the people of France. It does not say explicitly that Napoleon is unharmed, but implies it and also that his safety is secondary to that of the unfortunate people who were 'struck by the infernal machine', the explosive packed cart which was detonated by the conspirators. This medal is clearly another cog in the Napoleonic propaganda machine, and devised by Napoleon himself no less, to turn a calamitous event to his advantage.
Griffiths, Antony, 'The Origins of Napoleon's Histoire Metallique- part II', The Medal, No.17 Autumn 1990, p34
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
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Exhibited:
2015 Feb-Aug, BM, Rm 90, Bonaparte and the British
- Associated events
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Commemoration of: Attempted assassination of Napoleon I (24 Dec 1800)
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Associated Event: French Consulate (10 Nov 1799 - 18 May 1804)
- Acquisition date
- 1898
- Department
- Coins and Medals
- Registration number
- 1898,0102.26
