103556 | FRANCE. National Convention bell metal Medal.

103556  |  FRANCE. National Convention bell metal Medal. Issued 1792/Year 1 of the Republic (38mm, 12h). By André Galle in Lyon.

 

LIBERTE FRANÇOISE / L'AN I DE LA R F, head of Liberty left, with hair flowing freely and with pole surmounted by Phrygian cap over far shoulder // A LA / CONVENTION / NATIONALE / PAR LES / ARTISTES REUNIS / DE LYON / PUR METAL / DE CLOCHE / FRAPPE EN / MDCCXCII in ten lines; all within garlanded oak wreath.

 

Mazard 318a; Guilloteau 338; Bramsen 190b. PCGS MS-62. Dark chestnut-brown surfaces, with some appealing brilliance that elevates the finer details of the portrait, with a minor stain noted below it. On account of the composition (melted down bells), the level of craftsmanship of surviving examples tends to be on the poorer side.

 

Ex Heritage 3089 (22 January 2021), lot 32514.

 

A popular and attractive type that clearly drew great inspiration from the Libertas Americana medal issued a decade prior, and paralleled the contemporary American coinage during the mint's initial outputs of "flowing hair" designs.

 

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Upload: 3 July 2026.