Medal - Orpheus Gold plated ND

Reverse

Angel sitting on rectangular cartouche, facing left, looking right, holding writing feather in right hand and horn in left hand. Scroll with musical score below. Violin and bow below the cartouche and laurel (Laurus nobilis) branch below the cartouche.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
CHANT 1er PRIX 1930 Melle M TROUILLEUX
CONSERVATOIRE NATal
DE MUSIQUE
St ETIENNE

Engraver: Marie Alexandre Lucien Coudray

Edge

Cornucopia punch mark.

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. Most were minted in bronze, but a few were silver-plated or in solid silver. Originally, the medals had no inscription on the reverse, but engravings were added for various occasions.

This particular medal was presented to Miss M. Trouilleux as first prize for the 1930 singing competition by the Conservatoire nationale de musique St. Etienne.