FRANCE. Death of Jean d'Alembert Bronze Medal, 1785. NGC MS-63 Brown.
By Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux. Diameter: 60mm. Obverse: Bare bust of d'Alembert facing left, perimeter legend J. D'ALEMBERT above, signature N. GATTEAUX F. 1785 below bust; Reverse: Laurel wreath enclosing three-line legend A / L'IMMOR / TALITÉ. D'Alembert was primarily a French mathematician, but also a physicist, mechanician, and music theorist. He, together with Denis Diderot until 1759, co-edited the Encyclopédie, a multi-author, 17-volume, 21-year effort to commit on paper the world's knowledge. D'Alembert contributed over a thousand entries himself on the subjects of math, science, philosophy, and religion. He translated Tacitus, wrote on fundamental elements of fluid mechanics, and segued from math into music theory. One of the brilliant scientific and mathematical minds of the Enlightenment. This medal, very humble in its design approach to honoring the late D'Alembret, offers lustrous, glossy surfaces of a rich, deep mahogany that delight the eye. Very few scattered, light marks. Very attractive.
Margolis had a few rather overt interests in his collecting of medallic art. One such theme was that of medals pertaining to man's earliest pursuits to conquer the heavens in the form of ballooning. The European exploits of the late 18th century are contained here across many different country categories. Also quite noticeable was his interest in the medallic art of Jewish engravers, such as Jakob Abraham and his son, Abraham Abramson, among numerous others. Across this selection of medals, these themes and topics will become obvious, adding further dimensions to the already intense focus with which Margolis pursued his collecting.
From the Richard Margolis Collection.

Estimate: $75.00 - $150.00