|
Large circular silver medal with laterally-pierced ball and loop for ribbon suspension; the face with the crowned arms of Valenciennes, a pelican, symbol of succour, to either side, a ribbon below inscribed ‘VALENCIENNES A BIEN MERITE DE LA PATRIE’ (Valenciennes has brought merit to the country), the insignia of the Legion d’Honneur at the base, circumscribed ‘VILLE DE VALENCIENNES’ above; the reverse with a garland of roses above the engraved words ‘CROIX ROUGE FRANÇAISE / VALENCIENNES / 21 JUIN 1909 / A L’HARMONIE DU PERUWELZ’; with diamond-shaped maker’s mark and silver hallmark on the edge; diameter 40.37mm (1.59 inches), weight 31.53 grams (1.11 oz); lacking ribbon. Valenciennes in northern France is less than 25 kilometres from the Belgian town of Péruwelz which still has an amateur Harmonie that gives a number of concerts at public events each year.
|
