Page 25 - The Lugdunum Auction 21

Exhibited at the Exposition Universelle of 1867 in Paris

Our researches led us to make an exci-
ting discovery. We found out that this
very medal was exhibited at the Exposi-
tion Universelle of 1867 in Paris, inten-
ded to mark the culmination of the Se-
cond Empire. Its exceptional historical
importance as well as its artistic merit
where for sure the reasons our medal
had been selected.

View of the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris

A symbol of a victorious France

We can imagine the Emperor Napoleon III proud to admi-
re this timeless symbol of a strong and victorious France di-
splayed in front of prestigious guests like the Tsar Alexander
II, Otto von Bismarck, The Prinz Franz Joseph as well as over
10 million other visitors.

Benjamin Fillon, 1819-1881

Exceptional provenance

This medal has an exeptional provenance having been part since the
middle of the 19th Century of the collections of three of the most
important French numismatists and art collectors of their time:
Benjamin Fillon (1819-1881), Frédéric Engel-Gros (1843-1918)
and Martine, Comtesse de Béhague (1870-1939).

It comes as no surprise that the Comtesse did not hesitate to pur-
chase this exceptional piece in the collection of Engel-Gros sold in
1921 at the Hotel Drouot in Paris. The hammer price was not less
than 18’000 francs, in an auction where a charming decadrachm
of Syracuse from the engraver Euainetos was sold for 3’150 Francs.

Frédéric Engel-Gros, 1843-1918

If you want to learn more about this exceptional medal, do not hesitate to watch
our special presentation video on our website www.lugdunum-numismatik.com
(Highlights page) or by using this QR-Code