Historical Medals

FRANCE, A.L. Barye, [c. 1894], a bronze medal by A Patey, undated, bust left, rev. sculpture by Barye of lion on plinth, 68mm (BDM IV, 425). About extremely fine £80-£100

Buckland Dix & Wood Auction, 15 December 1995, lot 391

Auguste Louis Barye (1795-1875), sculptor, painter and medallist; the reverse design is of Barye’s famous work, Le Lion et Le Serpent, executed in 1832, now in the Tuileries Gardens, Paris. Confusingly, the standard works are at variance as to when Patey executed this medal; the catalogue of the Monnaie states the date of issue as 1876, the year after Barye’s death and when Patey himself was but 21 years old. Forrer, who knew Patey, gives the date as 1894.