Ancient, British and World Coins, Tokens, Historical Medals and Banknotes

France, Homage to Emile Zola, 1898, a bronze medal by A.-L.-M. Charpentier, bust right, reverse sun appearing from behind clouds, LA VÉRITÉ EST EN MARCHE ET RIEN NE L’ARRÊTERA, EMILE ZOLA 13 JANVIER 1898, 32mm; together with the corresponding working steel punches for the obverse and reverse, 32mm [49mm width] (cf. PBE 148; cf. Coll. R. Marx 256; cf. CGMP p.84; cf. Baudey/Bricher 1992, 33; BDM I, 414). [3]. Medal good very fine and nicely patinated, the small size very rarely seen, punches extremely fine and as made; a unique trio of pieces (£90-120)

Medal only illustrated.

Emile Zola (1840-1902), the leading theorist and practitioner of French naturalism. The medal commemorates his celebrated and effective campaign in defence of Capt. Dreyfus, during which his open letter ‘J’accuse’ addressed to the French President on 13 January 1898, led to Zola being prosecuted for libel and sentenced to a year in prison. Zola fled to England to esape the sentence, returning to France after being granted an amnesty in 1899