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Ref: 7055 |
France,
Napoleon III Plebiscite, 21st December 1851, bronze medal by J-P Montagny, rare Obv: France
standing left in classical dress holding anchor and laurel wreath above the
letters LN, which are above an urn with the referendum results, date in
exergue Rev:
LA VOIX DU PEUPLE EST LA VOIX DE DIEU (the voice of the people is the voice
of God) at top, LE PEUPLE EN SA FAVEUR 2 FOIS S’EST PRONONCÉE 10 DÉCEMBRE
1848 5587759 21 DÉCEMBRE 1851 7481231 in 8 lines (the People spoke twice in
his favour + results) Condition:
Good very fine; Diameter: 37mm References:
Divo unlisted. The obverse of this medal is listed
as Divo 55 (reverse) with the reverse listed as Divo 58 (reverse) for type. Notes:
The referendum legitimised Louis-Napoleon’s coup d’état of early December and
gave him extraordinary powers. The results in his favour (by a margin of over
11-1 might raise eyebrows today. Indeed it was questioned at the time by
some, including Victor Hugo, who went into exile for 20 years as a result. Price £55 |
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