France, “Salut au Soleil” (Hail the Sun), silver plaquette medal 1899, by Georges Dupré


Obv: an old shepherd with a staff and a boy kneel as they watch the sunrise over the horizon

Rev: view to sea from an inlet, verse in field “Quand tout change pour toi, la Nature est la meme, et le meme soleil se leve sur tes jours” (When everything changes for you, Nature stays the same, and the same sun rises on your days)

Condition: Good very fine, softly worked

Diameter: 50mm x 63mm

References: CGMP 3/p169 E; Forrer I/653

Notes: The medallist is one of those closely involved in the 19th century renaissance of the medal as an art form. He was descended from Augustin Dupré, the medallist of the French Revolution. This plaquette medal is now scarce in silver.

Price £80