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

Le Lion de Belfort, c.1920, a gilt-bronze award plaque after F.A. Bartholdi, issued by Arthus-Bertrand, lion on its haunches in front of the rock on which Belfort is built, named (Au Camarade Verguet), reverse engraved inscription (Temoignage de Réconnaissance de l’Association des Officiers de Complément de Lyon et de la 14e Région, 11 Novembre 1922), 66 x 49mm (BDM VII, 52; BM Acq. 1978-82, p.37, 4). Extremely fine, attractive (£30-40)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Historical and Art Medals, the Property of a European Collector.

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Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904), the sculptor from Colmar whose best-known work is the Statue of Liberty in New York harbour, completed his Lion de Belfort in 1880. The sculpture was erected to symbolise the resistance of the town of Belfort during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1. This plaque was presented to its recipient on the fourth anniversary of the 1918 Armistice