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France - 1807

Route de Nice à Rome

Obverse
Obverse:
Head and legend similar to the preceding.
Size:
41 mm.
Reverse
Reverse:
the Goddess Fortuna seated on a rocky shore, half draped, her left arm rests on a wheel; the base of the rock appears washed by a rough sea, on which is placed her left foot; her right rests of the land. In the back-ground, a ridge of conical mountains, out topping each other, on the highest peak of these, her right hand is placed.
Exergue:
ROUTE DE NICE À ROME MDCCCVII. GAYRARD F. DENON DIR.

Laskey:

The allegory on the reverse of this medal seems to imply, by the foot of Fortune resting on the sea, that she has conducted him through the passages of the dreary deep; and, by her right foot being placed on the level of the rocky shore whereon she sits, that by her assistance, he was relanded in safety (at Frejus) on his return. Her right hand being placed on the mountain top, we presume to think alludes to his good fortune in being enabled, by her assistance, to pass with his army the almost insurmountable obstacle, the great St. Gothard, whereby he atchieved that ever renowned battle, Maringo. The exergue denotes the place of his departure (Nice) on his going to Rome, for the purpose of taking possession of that city and the ecclesiastical states; or the whole of the reverse may probably allude to his route over dreary mountains and rapid rivers during this peregrination. We merely hazard the above conjectures from the great difficulty we have met with throughout, in attempting to elucidate the precise meaning of the artist.
 

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 690
Route de Nice à Rome. (Gayrard.)
NAPOLEON EMP. ET ROI. Tête laurée, à droite.
Rev: La déesse Vibilia assise sur une route pratiquée à travers des montagnes escarpées, pose un pied sur le roc et l'autre sur la surface de la mer; d'un bras elle est accoudée sur une roue et de l'autre elle s'appuie sur le sommet d'un rocher.
Exergue: ROUTE DE NICE À ROME MDCCCVII.
Médaille, 41 mm. - T. N. 23, 16; H. m. 42, 229; M. F. 372, 92.
La figure du revers est imitée des monnaies de l'empereur Trajan qui représentent la route Trajane.

d'Essling:

d'Essling - 1202
Route de Nice à Rome (Andrieu et Gayrard).
Tête laurée de Nap. à dr.
R. La déesse Vibilia ass. à g. accoudée à une roue.
(TN. 23.16 - M. 229 - B. 690 - Flor. Mess. 78) Br. et épreuve cuiv. uniface du revers, 41 mm.