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France - 1804

Le Code Napoleon

Obverse:

Whole length figure standing of Napoleon, habited in the imperial paludamentum; his head encircled with a laurel wreath, in his right hand he holds the Code Napoleon; sandals on his feet.

Legend:

NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. BRENET F. DENON D.

Size:

42.3 mm.

Reverse:

a whole length figure of Minerva, the head and bust presumed to be copied from the Antique which was originally in the Vatican. She is represented with the Napoleon Code in her left hand, and with the right supports herself by her hasta or spear.

Exergue:

EN L'AN XII. LE CODE CIVIL EST DECRETE. BRENET F. DENON D.

Vern's Comments:

Scargill:

No. 23.

THE CODE OF NAPOLEON.
   A code of laws is one of those operations which form an epoch, not only during the reign of the sovereign under whom it is proclaimed, but likewise in the history of nations and ceuturies. The code of Napoleon was the work of the ablest lawyers, and the result of the longest and most serious discussions in the Council of State, over which the sovereign presided. Never was an operation of so much importance to every member of the community, more unanimously received by the people of France, and those of the conquered countries.
   The medal which celebrates this great event, displays a full length figure of the Emperor, crowned with laurel, habited in a long toga, and holding in one hand the code which he gives to the nation.

THE INSCRIPTION IS,
Napoleon Emperor.

   On the reverse, is the statue of Minerva presenting the code, with this legend,

The civil code is decreed in the year XII, (1803).

   In this medal two statues are immortalized; that of Napoleon executed by the order of the legislative body, and erected in the hall of the public sittings, and that of Pallas, one of the master-pieces of primitive Grecian sculpture, found a few years ago at Velletri, and purchased for the Museum of Napoleon.

Millin:

82. Planche XXV. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Statue of Napoleon, with the toga and laurel, crown, holding a scroll. BRENET F. DENON D.
Reverse. EN L'AN XII LE CODE CIVIL EST DÉCRÉTÉ. Figure of the Minerva of Velletri, taken from the statue in the Museum of the Louvre. BRENET F. DENON D. (P.M.)
The code Napoleon was terminated in 1804. The 24th March, 1804, the Legislative Body, previous to its adjournment, decreed, that a statue of Napoleon should be erected in the middle of the hall of its sittings, as a testimony of the public gratitude for the new code. This statue, executed by Chaudet, is represented on the obverse of the present Medal.
There is a different die of this medal, in which the head of the statue is front-faced.

Laskey:

No. XXXVII.
LE CODE NAPOLEON.

Obverse - Whole length figure standing of Napoleon, habited in the imperial paludamentum; his head encircled with a laurel wreath, in his right hand he holds the Code Napoleon; sandals on his feet. Legend, NAPOLEON EMPEREUR, BRENET F. DENON D. Reverse, a whole length figure of Minerva, the head and bust presumed to be copied from the Antique which was originally in the Vatican. She is represented with the Napoleon Code in her left hand, and with the right supports herself by her hasta or spear. Legend, EN L'AN XII. LE CODE CIVIL EST DECRETÉ. BRENET F. DENON D, Size, 1 ½ inches.

On the 15th January, a New Civil Code, denominated the Code Napoleon, was presented and adopted by the Legislature of France, on which occasion, the French Goverment ordered that a medal should be struck to perpetuate this epocha. This was executed after the First Consul had abdicated that title and assumed the title of Emperor, as appears by the legend on the obverse.

Bramsen:

291. Code civil. (Brenet.)
NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. La statue en pied de Napoléon, en costume romain, la tête de profil, à gauche, couronnée de laurier.
Rev: EN L'AN XII. LE CODE CIVIL EST DECRETÉ *. La Minerve de Villetri.
Médaille, 41 mm. - Trésor de Numismatique de l'Empire français: Planche 2 No 9; H. m. 25, 82; M. F. 345, 148.

d'Essling:

1005 - Code Civil (Brenet).
Napoléon deb. à g.
℞ Minerve deb. à dr.
(TN. 2.9 - M. 82 - B. 291) Arg. et br. 41 mm. 3 p. (2 var.)

Milan:

416. NAPOLEONE - Codice civile
D. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR Nel campo, al centro, Napoleone in abiti romani, stante a s., regge con la mano d., rotolo; nel campo, in basso, ai lati: BRENET F. DENON D. Contorno a piatto e gola.	R. EN L’AN XII- LE CODE CTVIL EST DECRETÉ (rosetta) Nel campo, al centro, la statua di Minerva di Velletri; nel campo, in basso, a d: BRENET F. / DENON D. Contorno a piatto e gola.

Autore: BRENET; Data: 1804
Caratteristiche tecniche: Bronzo; Ømm 42; 7; Coniazione
Condizione giuridica: Stato-Brera n. 144; N. Inv.: M.0.9.30278
Bibl.: Bramsen. n. 291; Julius, nn. 1206-1207; Essling. n. 1005; Millin n. 82; De Félissent, ---

Le Code Napoleon