The Decennial Prize Medals.

As the first decade of the nineteenth drew to a close it was realized that there was a great opportunity to add class to the first ten years of Napoleon's rule by establishing a grand series of prizes to be awarded for the best productions of that period. A committee was appointed to determine the best painting, the best literary production, the best scientific discovery, in short, the best of everything. A prize medal was designed and the die engraved by Andrieu, but the project fell through, the committee members apparently unable to come to agreement about whom to honor.

Although medals were never awarded, copies were struck and have appeared in several collections. Bramsen had at least one copy (probably the silver copy later owned by Julius), and the Essling collection contained a copper or bronze example. At least two different obverses were used, one a laureate bust of Napoleon facing left, without inscription but signed by Andrieu; the other a laureate bust of Napoleon facing right and signed by Droz.

Bramsen 985. The Decennial Prize Medal. 68 mm


Obverse 1: NAPOLEON EMPEROR ET ROI. Bust of Napoleon facing right, signed in field below J.P. DROZ FECIT./AN 1809.

Reverse: PREMIERE DECADE DU DIX-NEUVIEME SIECLE. Athena seated l., presenting a wreath. Behind her is an altar bearing palm fronds, inscribed at its base ANDRIEU F. Exergue: L'EMPEREUR A DECERNE /[blank area for name of recipient]/ LE Cte MONTOLIVET Mtre DE L'INTERIEUR DECEMBRE MDCCCX.

Obverse 2: Laureate bust of Napoleon facing left. Signed on truncation ANDRIEU F. and in field below, DENON D.