Circular silver medal with oak wreath suspension; the face with the head of Napoleon III facing right and circumscribed ‘NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR’, signed ‘BARRE’ (for the great French sculptor and medallist Albert Désiré Barré, 1818-1878); the reverse with an oval upright plaque inscribed ‘MINISTERE DE L’INTERIEUR ACTES DE DÉVOUEMENT’ (Ministry of the Interior, Acts of Devotion) and with the attribution ‘MÉTAUT PIERRE 1866’ imposed on a cartouche, a male figure with a lion to the left, a female figure with a child to the right, all in classical dress, inscribed ‘RECOMPENSE NATIONAL’ above and ‘COURAGE HUMANITE’ below; silver assay marks on the lower edge; age-toned; on replaced correct ribbon. The Medal for Acts of Courage and Devotion was created on 2 March 1820 and became wearable on the tricolour ribbon in 1831. It is awarded to recognise feats of courage and devotion, normally in life-saving at the risk of the recipient’s own life. A very good attributed example.
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