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France - 1795

Collapse of the First Coalition

Obverse:

Austria holds a shield over a young woman, guiding her away from a despondant seated woman who wears a turretted crown of a city.

Legend:

SCVTO CIRCVMDABIT . TE .

Exergue:

MAR . TH . CAR . LVDOV . AVI(?) . FTLIA(?) . / AD . AUSTRIAE . FINES . / HOSPITIO . EXCIPITVR . / MDCCLXXXXV .

Size:

52 mm.

Vern's Comments:

Early work by the great engraver Galle, perhaps abandoned because of changing political circumstances. It could easily be atrributed to Austria rxcept he was working in Paris at the time. The imagery of despondency and a fallen crown (perhaps Prussia?) and Austria scooping up territory. I'm frankly curious about all this.

It has no reverse because it is a lead trial strike, sort of an early check to see progress. They were normally destroyed but show up often enough to believe they were sold to collectors or given to friends.