British and World Coins. Tokens and Historical Medals

Nancy, a fine large cast uniface bronze medallion by E-P. Blin, undated, perhaps c. 1920, head of Christ wearing crown of thorns turned half right, nancy in field to right, artist’s signature below, 155mm. Extremely fine and a very powerful medallic image (£120-150)

Edouard-Pierre Blin (1877-1946), sculptor and medallist, pupil of Chaplain. The medal presumably relates to the suffering endured by the city of Nancy — capital of Alsace, the region of France, which along with Lorraine, was gained by Germany after the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian war — during the First World War. Date uncertain, perhaps made during or shortly after the war, though anti-German propaganda relating to the lost region was common even before the onset of hostilities.