FRANCE, Angelo Mariani, 1905, an Art Nouveau silver plaque by L.-E. Mouchon, half-length figure seated right at laboratory table, piping coca solution into bottle, other vessels in background, rev. naked Latin-American female kneeling left, holding torch and a branch of coca plant to flavour a wine glass held up by an aged European artisan seated left, jungle foliage and mountains in background, three llamas or alpacas at centre, Helios driving chariot to right above, edge impressed argent and two foundry marks, 52 x 37mm, 53.74g (Mazerolle, Brussels Exh. Cat. 1910, pl. xvi; The Medal 61, p.32, 14; BDM IV, 177 and VIII, 84, recté 1905; cf. iNumis Dec. 2015, 223; cf. DNW M13, 1349). Old adhesive tag mark at upper right on reverse, otherwise very fine and toned, rare £240-£300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Silich Collection of Historical and Art Medals.

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bt Simmons, April 2002

Angelo Mariani (1838-1914) was the Corsican-born chemist who invented coca wine in 1863. He imported a huge amount of coca leaves, made an extract, and used it for many products. Vin Mariani, a red Bordeaux and coca wine mix, was extensively promoted by celebrities of the day on both sides of the Atlantic, including Sarah Bernhardt and Ulysses S. Grant, and made Mariani famous and wealthy.