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France: Grave of Napoleon on St. Helena, Napoleon's Ghost

France: Grave of Napoleon on St. Helena, Napoleon's GhostFrance: Grave of Napoleon on St. Helena, Napoleon's Ghost
France: Grave of Napoleon on St. Helena, Napoleon's GhostFrance: Grave of Napoleon on St. Helena, Napoleon's Ghost
Form: Circular
By: ?
Date: 1821
Ref:  Laidlaw: 0849;
Variations:
SizeMetalMassValue
28.5 mmBronze7.9 gm$80
28.9 mmGilded Bronze7.6 gm$80

Edge: Upright reeded.

Obverse: Within a toothed border round the rim, grave of Napoleon marked by cross with: “N” on top. To the left, kneeling woman (or angel) with small wreath in left hand. Imperial eagle below. Two overhanging trees on the right, their trunks outlining a ghost-like image of Napoleon standing and overlooking his grave. Sea and hills in the distance with: “NAPOLEON” in an arc above and moon above that.

Reverse: Within a toothed border round the rim, across: “BORN AUGST. 15 1769 (in an arc) / (ornamental line) / FIRST CONSUL / DECR. 14 1799 / EMPEROR MAY 18 1804 / ABDICATED MAY 14 1814 / EXILED TO ST HELENA / AUGST. 8 1815 / (ornamental line) / DIED MAY 5TH. 1821 (in an arc)”.

Notes: St. Helena is a small island in the South Atlantic 2000 km west of Southern Africa. After Napoléon's defeat at the the Battle of Waterloo, he was taken to the island in October 1815 where he resided as a captive in Longwood House until his death on 5 May 1821.