Description

Offered is a French Military Medal (Médaille Militaire), Napoleon III era issue by Barre.

43mm high circular silver medal with Imperial eagle suspension; the face with a circular central medallion with the head of Emperor Napoleon III facing left encircled by a blue enamel ring inscribed ‘LOUIS NAPOLEON’ within a laurel wreath border; the reverse with a circular central medallion inscribed ‘VALEUR ET DISCIPLINE’ within a blue enamel ring encircled by a laurel wreath; artist signed Barre (Albert-Désiré Barre). Blue enamel with wear/chips to both sides; ribbon original, slightly frayed in the centre, possible as a result of being worn through a button hole.

The Military Medal ranks second amongst all French decorations, giving precedence only to the Legion of Honour (and an exception made for the Order of the Liberation). It was created by Louis Napoleon on 22 January 1852 for long-serving non-commissioned officers and soldiers and has been liberally awarded ever since. This example is from the ‘Empire’ period, 1852 to 1870.