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

France, Jean-Paul Marat, 1868, a large uniface bronze medal by Brisson, bust left, wearing cap of Liberty, NE POUVANT LE CORROMPRE ILS L’ONT ASSASSINE behind, MARAT, L’AMI DU PEUPLE below, 225mm (cf. DNW 42, 1400). High relief, extremely fine and patinated, rare (£100-150)

Jean-Paul Marat (1743-93), Swiss-born physician and one of the most notorious figures at the centre of the French Revolution. He became physician to the Comte d’Artois (later Charles X), but achieved wider acclaim from his writings. His newspaper, L’Ami du Peuple, denounced deputies, ministers and the crown, and he was forced to seek refuge in England, but his popularity among the rank and file in Paris led him to return and his greatest triumph came when the Convention was purged by insurrection in June 1793. A month later, on 13 July 1793, he was stabbed to death in his bath by the demented Girondiste supporter Charlotte Corday. Illustrated on Plate III in back of catalogue