Description
France, ‘First Dumount D’Urville Expedition’ Commemorative Medallion in bronze (50mm, 45.28g), engraved by Alexis Joseph Depaulis, Paris mint 1826. Obverse: Bare Headed Bust of King Charles X facing left, “CHARLES X ROI DE FRANCE ET DE NAV”. Reverse: Inscription at the centre: “S.A.R. MGR. LE DAUPHIN, AMIRAL DE FRANCE MR. LE CTE. CHABROL DE CROUZOL, PAIR DE FRANCE, MINISTRE DE LA MARINE, MR. DUMONT D’URVILLE, CAPITAINE DE FRÉGATE, COMT. LE’EXPEDITION 1826”, legend around “VOYAGE DE DÉCOUVERTES DE LA CORVETTE L’ASTROLABE”. Minor parts of green in lettering, else a lovely type with a very attractive obverse. Extremely Fine.
This medallion commemorates the first expedition of the Astrolabe, formerly a house barge that was converted to an Exploration Ship by the French Navy, under the command of the famous French Explorer Jules Durmont D’Urville. She sailed from Toulon on 22nd April 1826, towards the Pacific Ocean, for a circumnavigation of the world that was destined to last nearly three years, visiting New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and other Pacific Islands. The Astrolabe returned to Marseille on 25 March 1829.
