Ancient, Celtic, British and World Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

WORLD ART MEDALS France, Eugene Delacroix, bronze medallion, by Pierre-Marie Poisson, bust left, reverse prancing centaur, oak tree in distance, 107mm. Extremely fine, rare (£70-90)

Pierre-Marie Poisson, sculptor and medallist (1876-1953). This artist does not appear to have been a particularly prolific maker of medals, although we have been fortunate enough to have sold several over the past few years, CGMP III only lists two of his works; while he gains a short entry in Forrer (vol VII, supplement, p. 142) on the basis of just one medal exhibited at the Salon de Beaux-Arts, 1920. The present piece is not listed in CGMP, and is difficult to date; but it is certainly possible that it was made in 1938 to mark the centenary of Delacroix’s birth. The number 44 is stamped on the edge, presumably indicating a limited edition.