103396 | FRANCE & EGYPT. Conquest of Lower Egypt silver Medal.

103396  |  FRANCE & EGYPT. Conquest of Lower Egypt silver Medal. Dated Year VII of the Republic (1798/9), but issued circa 1802 (33mm, 13.92 g, 12h). By Nicolas-Guy-Antoine Brenet at the Paris mint.

 

River god Nilus (Nile) reclining left, head turned slightly right, with eight small nude attendants around, along with crocodile, cornucopia, and sphinx; CONQUÊTE DE LA / BASSE EGYPTE / AN VII in three lines // View of the Giza pyramid complex; in three lines in exergue, DENON DIR G. DU / MUSÉE C. D. ARTS / BRENET. Edge: Plain.

 

Lecompte 4 Ionnikoff 3; Hennin 850; d'Essling 756; Julius 627; Fonrobert 5081. PCGS MS-62. Brilliant gunmetal gray surfaces, with some wondrous iridescent color across both sides; an old, stray mark in the obverse field is all that prevents an even higher designation. No doubt one of the most of attractive of this larger-sized type in silver that one will encounter. A splendid original striking from an earlier die state, well before a large die crack and subsequent cud would form on the obverse. Compare to a similar example that realized a total of £1,600 ($2,533 after the 20% buyer's fee) in Roma XXIV (28 March 2022), lot 1648.

 

Napoléon's campaign in Egypt sparked a tremendous interest into all things related to there, with the discovery (and subsequent translation of) the Rosetta Stone allowing for an ever deeper understanding of the ancient Egyptians. Various medals touch upon aspects of this campaign, with some of the more famous channeling ancient coinage for inspiration. One such type commemorates the subjugation of Egypt, with the coinage of Augustus (and a crocodile) serving as the prototype, whereas another (the present type) was inspired by many of the depictions of Nilus (the personification of the Nile River) upon various ancient coins. Here, in addition to Nilus, the Giza pyramid complex is depicted, serving as a representation of this wonder of the ancient world.

 

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Upload: 2 February 2026.