101953 | FRANCE. Dijon. Val-Suzon Hill Climb silver Award Plaque.

101953  |  FRANCE. Dijon. Val-Suzon Hill Climb silver Award Plaque. Engraved 1912, though unawarded (45mm x 60mm, 86.07 g, 12h). By F. Rasumny & A. Duseaux at the Paris Mint.

 

Medallion containing upper part of seminude male steering roadster left, with billowing cape behind; all within garlanded wreath of palm and laurel branches; in exergue, decorative cartouche left blank for engraving / "LA VILLE / DE / DIJON / CONCOURS DE CÔTE / VAL SUZON / 1912" engraved in six lines; palm, laurel, and oak branches curling to left; below, decorative cartouche left blank for engraving. Edge: «diamond» ARGENT 950 M/M.

 

Choice Mint State. Deep gunmetal gray surfaces, with an alluring matte nature. A very rare and enticing Art Nouveau racing-related piece of medallic art.

 

The "concours de côte" are automobile races in which the "track" is composed of mountainous countryside rides with rising and falling terrain. In particular, the concourse de côte de Val-Suzon was contested roughly 12 miles north of Dijon in east-central France. Usually held in late June or early July, it was first run in 1901, not being held again until 1904. This particular award was engraved "1912," but otherwise left blank with respect to an awardee. It is likely that it was engraved as such beforehand in anticipation, though an event would not be run in 1912. In fact, it would not be run again until well after World War I in 1922, with the final race in the cycle being run in 1926.

 

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