Napoleon, King of Italy, gold Presidential Medal for the Genoa Academy, 1806, by H Vassallo, IMP NAPOLEON P F A REX ITAL, laureate bust right, wearing ermine mantle and collar of the Lgion d'Honneur, signed H VASSALLO F below, rev. GENUENSIS ACADEM IMPER SCIENT BONAR QUE ARTIUM MDCCCVI around laurel wreath enclosing PRAESIDI DECUS, 50mm., 52.81g. (Br.-; Julius -; Edwards -; Essling -; Helbing -; Leu 14 -), some light scratches on the obverse, a knock on the reverse edge at 4 o'clock, some other light marks, very fine, extremely rare, with gold ring for suspension

Details

Napoleon, King of Italy, gold Presidential Medal for the Genoa Academy, 1806, by H Vassallo, IMP NAPOLEON P F A REX ITAL, laureate bust right, wearing ermine mantle and collar of the Lgion d'Honneur, signed H VASSALLO F below, rev. GENUENSIS ACADEM IMPER SCIENT BONAR QUE ARTIUM MDCCCVI around laurel wreath enclosing PRAESIDI DECUS, 50mm., 52.81g. (Br.-; Julius -; Edwards -; Essling -; Helbing -; Leu 14 -), some light scratches on the obverse, a knock on the reverse edge at 4 o'clock, some other light marks, very fine, extremely rare, with gold ring for suspension

Lot Essay

The obverse portrait by Vassallo was used for the medal of Napoleon's entry into Genoa, 1805 (Br.428; TN 8,6; Julius 1403). The reverse is given for the prize medal of 1806 with an obverse of an allegorical female (Br.569; TN 18,3; Julius 1643). This combination of the portrait of 1805 and the prize medal of 1806 is not surprising, but as no example of this medal is to be found in any of the great collections, it is clearly of the highest rarity.

See also front cover illustration