1082900 | FRANCE. Napoleon III. (Emperor, 1842-1870). 1862 AV Medal of 50 Ducats Weight. PCGS SP63. By Albert Désiré Barre. Edge: OR (bee). 59.5mm. 170.12gm. NAPOLEON III - EMPEREUR. Laureate bust, right; signed below truncation / PUPILLES DE LA - MARINE// 15/ NOV/ 1862// LE CTE. P. DE CHASSELOUP-LAURAT/ MINISTRE DE LA MARINE ET/ DES COLONIES. Crowned allegorical figure of France seated at right and facing left with anchor and dated memorial while holding her mantle over four children to left; signed lower right, legend above and three-line inscription in exergue. Page-Divo 468; cf. Brettauer 3134 (Silver); cf. Essling 1750 (Bronze).

Struck for the inauguration of the naval orphange. Exceedingly rare and quite likely unique; the only gold example mentioned by Page-Divo.

Ex Auction Leu Auction 14 (1975) Lot 553. . Housed in an oversized holder. Images of the Page-Divo reference catalogue are reproduced here for illustration purposes only. They are not included with the item listed for sale.


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On November 15, 1862, Justin Napoléon Prosper de Chasseloup-Laubat (1805-1873) inaugurated an orphanage for the children of naval personnel near Brest. Chasseloup-Laubat was a godson of Emperor Napoleon I and was appointed Minister of the Navy and the Colonies by Napoleon III in 1860.