Circular silver medal with oak wreath suspension; the face with a female head facing left representative of the French Republic and circumscribed ‘REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE’, signed ‘BARRE’; the reverse with an oval upright plaque inscribed ‘MINISTERE DE L’INTERIEUR ACTES DE DEVOUEMENT’ (Ministry of the Interior, Acts of Devotion) and with the attribution ‘CHOUMER ADOLPHE F. 1881’, 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; on original, somewhat tired 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. This model, designed by Désiré-Albert Barre, was introduced in 1875 and replaced by that of Oscar Roty in 1897.
|