Ancient, Celtic, British and World Coins. Historical and Art Medals

France, Général Kleber, 1831, a uniface cast bronze medal by D. d’Angers, bust three-quarters right, head turned to face viewer, 173mm (Reinis 244; BDM I, 527; cf. DNW 44, 809). High relief, very fine, rare; with suspension loop on the back (£100-120)

Jean-Baptiste Kleber (1753-1800), French general, born at Strasbourg, initially entered the Austrian army but resigned his commission to return to France. He fought in the Vendéan campaign of 1794 and, under Napoleon, he successfully commanded his division in Syria in 1798-9. In 1799 Kleber’s army of 10,000 defeated 60,000 Turks at Heliopolis, the beginning of the conquest of Egypt. Kleber himself was killed by a Muslim fanatic in Cairo in 1800. Illustrated on Plate I in back of catalogue