100262 | FRANCE. Chargeurs Réunis bronze Medal. Struck 1948.

100262 | FRANCE. Chargeurs Réunis bronze Medal. Struck 1948. Commemorating the "Brazza" Service Line (49mm, 63.29 g, 12h). By C. Fraisse in Paris.

 

SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA / 1852–1905, Helmeted head of Italian explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza left; in background, tropical jungle scene with natives, grinding grain and holding spear, respectively, standing facing one another / CHARGEURS REUNIS, perspective view from the left of the vessel breaking waves right; PAQUEBOT BRAZZA / –1948– in exergue. Edge: «cornucopia» BRONZE.

 

Gem Mint State. Yellow-brown matte surfaces.

 

Named after the Italian explorer who, with the backing of the Société de géographie, helped to open up Central Africa to French colonization, the Brazza ocean liner ran between La Havre and New Caledonia, and met an untimely end on 28 May 1940, as she was attacked and torpedoed by a German submarine, U-37, killing 379 of the 576 on board.

 

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