Medal - Orpheus Bronze, uniface ND

Reverse

Blank.

Edge

Stamped cornucopia and inscription.

Script: Latin

Lettering: BRONZE

Comment

The official name of the medal was "Orphée endort Cerbère aux sons de sa lyre" (Orpheus puts Cerberus to sleep with the sound of his lyre).

The Orpheus medal was conceived in 1893 by Marie Alexandre Lucien Coudray, who obtained the Grand Prix de Rome scholarship for engraving it. The medal was later minted in a large edition and was offered for sale at the Paris International Exhibition of 1900 where over 2500 were sold. It was struck in various diameters (112 mm, 68 mm, 50 mm, 40-41 mm, 36 mm, and 27mm) and metals (bronze, silver, silver-plated, and gold-plated). Except for the smallest diameter, which is a later re-strike, all date from the early 20th century, with a cornucopia edge mark denoting an original strike.