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

France, Death of General Gallieni, 1916, a large uniface cast bronze medal by G.-H. Prud’homme, uniformed bust left, AU DEFENSEUR DE PARIS around, 194mm (cf. BDM VIII, 147). A sharp, pleasing cast, extremely fine and patinated, rare (£80-100)

Joseph Simon Gallieni (1849-1916), French soldier and Colonial administrator; served in the military campaigns in the upper Niger, 1877-81; in Martinique, 1882-5; governor of Upper Senegal, 1886; first military commander of Madagascar, 1896, and later governor-general of the island; returned to France 1906, as military governor of Lyon; appointed military governor of Paris, August 1914; raised several thousand troops in Paris to help repulse von Kluck’s offensive in the First Battle of the Marne, 1915; appointed minister of war by Prime Minister Briand, 1915, but ill-health forced him to resign shortly before his death. The title of marshal was awarded to him posthumously in 1921.
See Plate III