France - Medal 'Napoleon Emperor / Conquest of Illyria'
Napoleon BonaparteManufacturer: Paris MintThis Actual medal Weight (grams): Metal content bronzeDimensions: mm diameter SummaryMedal Conquete de l'Illyrie 'Conquest of Illyria', Issued by Napoleon Bonaparte (Emperor Napoleon I), France, Artist: Bertrand Andrieu and Alexis J. DepaulisMinted by Paris MintObverse DescriptionLaureate head facing right; around, NAPOLEON EMP. ET ROI.; on neck truncation, ANDRIEU F.Reverse DescriptionA cow suckling a calf; above, the club of Hercules; in exergue, CONQUETE DE L'ILLYRIE / M.DCCCIX.; below in small lettering near the rim, DEPAULIS F. DENON. D.Edge DescriptionPlainSignificanceIn the expose of Count Montalvet, he says, "the Illyrian provinces cover Italy, give her a direct communication with Dalmatia, procure us a point of immediate contact with the Empire of Constantinople, which it must be the wish and intention of France for so many reasons to support and protect." Laskey p. 175 Read More