FRANCE. Duo of General Merit Bronze Medals (2 Pieces), 1898 & 1933. Paris Mint. Average Grade: UNCIRCULATED.
Two examples with identical obverses by JC Chaplain. Obverse: Seated figure of the goddess Minerva, holding a laurel wreath in her right hand and a wreath and a palm-branch in her left hand, AU MÉRITE around. Both with rim stamped "BRONZE" and cornucopia hallmark. 1) 1898. Weight: 142 gms; diameter: 68mm. Reverse by Ernest Henri Dubois. Reverse: Oak and laurel wreath, HOMMAGE DES ÉLECTRICIENS. BRUXELLES 27 MARS 1898. À ZÉNOBE GRAMME INVENTEUR DE LA DYNAMO INDUSTRIELLE within. 2) 1933. Weight: 135 gms; diameter: 68mm. Reverse by Ernest Henri Dubois. Reverse: Oak and laurel wreath, ETABLISSEMENTS CHATELAIN. DECEMBRE 1933. MONSIEUR COLIN ROBERT 15 ANNÉS DE PRÉSENCE within. The earlier 1898 example of this medal celebrates the invention of the Gramme Dynamo by the Belgian electrical engineer Zénobe Théophile Gramme (1826-1901). This was a type of direct current dynamo capable of generating smoother and much higher voltages than dynamos before this time. A Gramme Dynamo was exhibited at the Vienna International Exhibition of 1873. See also Chaplain's 1881 Congress International des Électriciens medal (listed in the Parks Collection above). The later copy, was issued to by the French pharmaceutical company Etablissements Chatelain in recognition of 15 years of service. References: - Deneken, J. C. Chaplain-Ausstellung Medaillen, #110
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From the Stephen R. Parks Collection of Medallic Arts.

Estimate: $30.00 - $50.00