This medal commemorates the brief period in French history when the future Emperor Napoleon I served as First Consul of the Republic (1799–1804). It was produced to celebrate the erection of the National Column on Place Vendôme in Paris in 1800.
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Details
Title: Gold-plated Medal of Napoleon Bonaparte as the First Consul of the French Republic
Creator: Pierre Simon Benjamin Duvivier
Date Created: 1800
Location Created: Paris, France
Physical Dimensions: Obverse: In an oval medallion is the bust of Napoleon facing right. Around it, an inscription: BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL DE LA REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE [Bonaparte, the First Consul of the French Republic], under the medallion are inscriptions in 2 arcs: CAMBACERES SECOND CONSUL / LEBRUN TROISIEme CONSUL [Cambaceres second consul, Lebrun third consul].
Reverse: inscription in 7 lines: PREMIERE PIERRE / DE LA COLONNE NATION / POSEE PAR / LUCIEN BONAPARTE / MINISTRE DE L'INTERIEUR / 25 MESSIDOR AN 8 / 14 IUILLET 1800 [cornerstone of the national column laid by Lucien Bonaparte, Minister of the Interior, 25 messiador of the year 8, 14 July 1800], above in an arc inscription: LE PEUPLE FRANÇAIS A SES DEFENSEURS [The French people to their defenders]; weight 43.696 g; diameter 54.5 mm