Medal - Orpheus (Silver plated) ND (1899) front Medal - Orpheus (Silver plated) ND (1899) back
Medal - Orpheus (Silver plated) ND (1899) photo
© Kölner Münzkabinett Tyll Kroha Nachfolger UG

Medal - Orpheus Silver plated ND

1899 year
Silver plated bronze 149.41 g 68 mm
Description
Location
France
Period
Third Republic (1870-1940)
Type
Medals › Award medals
Year
1899
Composition
Silver plated bronze
Weight
149.41 g
Diameter
68 mm
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
Updated
2024-11-12
References
Numista
N#340066
Rarity index
100%

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.

Engraver: Marie Alexandre Lucien Coudray

Edge

Cornucopia punch mark.

Script: Latin

Lettering: BRONZE

Comment

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 gilt or in solid silver.

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).