(B) Antique Marianne Silver Medal French Algerian Coral Berber Pendant Roty Coin

Description

Such an interesting object!
This French silver medal from the 1880’s was used as a backdrop for making a pendant by a skilled Kabyle silversmith in Algeria over a hundred years ago.  Very often, Moroccan and Algerian silver smiths included old colonialist and occupiers silver coins in their jewelry.  The coins added value, and also made a pleasant “clinking” sound when the woman moved which, in many parts of North Africa and the Middle and Far East, was believed to ward off evil spirits.
I LOVE history and if you like history, then you might enjoy the rest of this commentary about the medal:
So, after the French revolution in 1789, the people adopted the symbol of a woman wearing a Phrygian cap , which was a cap once worn by freed Greek and Roman slaves.  They began using that representation to symbolize their new Motto of the French Republic “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”.  This new woman was named “Marianne” presumably because “Marie” and “Anne” were the two most popular names in France at the time and this represented “the general public” ~ it was decided to use of a woman instead of a man to show the new attitude that was starting, in France - an era where the dominating patriarchy was being abolished - and equality and freedom for all was the new way of life.
Many statues were made using this new symbol, like the famous statue in the centre of La Place de la Republique in Paris - as well as the Statue of Liberty which was a gift from France to the USA.
Hitler destroyed many of these statues as he understood what a powerful symbol of freedom this held for the French people.  He wanted to destroy their moral, and kill their will and zeal for taking out the German invaders and being free again.
In this medal, we see the bust of “Marianne” is wearing ,in lieu of the Phrygian cap, a winged soldiers helmet to represent the god mercury which was associated with Gaul .  Mercury was worshipped as the patron god of military affairs.  This medal would have been given by the Minister of the Interior to a young soldier who was a sharp shooter.  The edge of the coin is stamped “argent” for silver. On the back , (which is now covered up with embellishments), would have been a rectangle surrounded by a wreath of laurel and oak leaves, where the young man’s name would have been engraved.
This
particular
charm was part of a larger necklace filled with several of such designs as well as other
traditional charms using coral and enamel.  Coral is seen as both a protective element as well as a giver of good health.  Coins are often used to make these charms, but I have never seen this particular beautiful medal used before.  Scarce.
The artist who engraved this beautiful medal was Louis Oscar Roty
who was born in Paris in 1846, and he is responsible for so many recognizable works of art on coins, medals and stamps.
For example that woman sowing seeds on the French coin “La Semeuse” was engraved by Roty (he signed his pieces O. Roty - which you can see with a loop, on the lower left space of this medal).
*Please check out and watch our auctions
We combine shipping :)
BALTHAZARA
~
Fine Tribal and Estate No Reserve Auctions