Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

France, Alfred Dreyfus Acquitted, 1906, a bronze medal by J. Baffier, bust of General Mercier left, rev. legend in 13 lines, wreath around, 50mm (cf. DNW 49, 918). About extremely fine, patinated; in fitted green case (£40-60)

Alfred Dreyfus (1859-1935), born in Alsace, the son of a rich Jewish manufacturer, was wrongly convicted of espionage in 1894 and, after a retrial, re-convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 1899. An innocent victim of malice, injustice and forgery, he was not completely cleared until 1906, when anti-Semitism in France had waned, despite the strength of opposition from the French Right. Dreyfus fought in World War I and was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1919. Proof of Dreyfus’ innocence was forthcoming on the publication of documents of the German military attaché in 1930