Owner Comments:
I recently had the opportunity to acquire a small group of premium quality French pieces produced by the Soho Mint. Most of these were duplicates of pieces already in my collection with prestigious provenances (e.g., Watt Jr Collection, Boulton Family Holdings, etc.), but they were too attractive to pass up. A few have since found new homes, but I saved a few. The current medal is one from that group. Although this medal is in the same technical grade as the other example, this piece has been assigned the coveted
Proof Like (i.e., PL) designation. It currently resides in an NGC MS-63 BN PL holder.
The pictures are courtesy of NGC's new PhotoVision Plus Service.
Historical Context: The write-up for the medal immediately before this entry details the broad impact Lafayette had on both the American and French revolutions and his falling out of favor with the French people. A long series of events, missteps, and general bad luck led to a denigrated reputation. Frustrated with the Jacobin sympathizers among his ranks he hastily made his way to Paris to personally express his displeasure. The following is an account of this event.
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Leicester Journal
Friday, July 6, 1792
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Paris, June 28th.
MONS. DE LAFAYETTE arrived here this day, and sent a letter requesting admission to the bar of the National Assembly. - Being admitted to the bar, M. Raymond read the following Address of Mr. M. La Fayette to the assembly: -
“It becomes me, Gentleman, in the first place to declare to the Assembly, that my presence in this capital will in no way tend to injure either the welfare of the empire, or the safety of the state. The measures concerted betwixt Marshall Luckner and myself will be a security against every surprise. My motives for coming hither are as follow:
You have been told, that the letter bearing my signature, and dated the 16th inst. cannot have come from me. I appeared before you to acknowledge the letter, and to call on your justice to avenge the attempt of the 20th made at the palace. This attempt against liberty, and the safety of the King, has excited an indignation in my army, and in the heart of every good citizen. I am charged to communicate to you the patriotic hatred they have sworn against the fictitious leaders of this tumult. My brave companions were desirous to address the Assembly - they have renounced this project by my order, and I have taken upon me to lay before you their sentiments.
Several of them have already asked, whether it is the cause of liberty and the constitution which they defend. It is time to defend the Constitution against the faction which aims to destroy it, so defend the National Assembly and the King, and to maintain the independence and authority delegated to them. I demand, therefore, that the authors and instigators of the troubles of the 20th, shall be prosecuted as having been guilty of leze-nation.
I beseech the National Assembly, and the name of myself and of every honest man in the Kingdom, to take the most effectual measures to have a due respect paid to the constituted authorities, those of the Assembly and the King, and to guarantee the army that no attempt shall be made against the Constitution, at the moment when they are spilling their blood for the country.
The President replied in the name of the Assembly, that it had sworn to maintain the laws, and knew how to defend them.
M. Gaudet then, After expressing his surprise that M. la Fayette was not come to relate a victory, but to offer advice, moved, that it should be enquired of the Minister at War rather he had given M. la Fayette permission to leave his army.
In the course of the debate upon this motion, it was shown, that M. l Fayette Had prevented his troops from signing an agreement of association, which they would have otherwise have done; and the General did not, in this sitting, receive any reproof for having quitted his army to interfere in the legislative concerns of the country.
The motion of M. Gaudet Was rejected by the following division:
For the Address – 339
Against it – 334
The Minister then read a Letter which the King had received from M. Luckner and which the General desired might be communicated to the National Assembly.
Letter from M. Luckner to the King.
“Sir,
Called, by your choice, to command of one of the French armies, loaded, by you and by the National Assembly, with honors, it has been my wish, and I have endeavored, to shew myself worthy of so many favours.
I am, for my life, devoted to the Service of France. I think of nothing, and I will tend to nothing beside the maintenance of the Constitution. Already I had taken footing on the enemies territories, a much greater success would have crowned our efforts, had others properly cooperated with me. Thus situated, we have been informed of the outrages to which you have been exposed. A terrible and sudden indignation burst forth throughout the army. Everyone admires your courage. Sire, we have enemies before us; suffer not a faction to weaken us internally.
LUCKNER
One of the Members demanded, that the Generals of the army should in future be prohibited from writing such letters.
The letters of Messrs. La Fayette and Luckner were referred to Committee.
PARIS, JUNE 29.
The arrival of M. la Fayette yesterday morning unexpectedly, has caused a most uncommon agitation in this capital. The National Guards carried him in triumph to and from the National Assembly, but the people were far from joining in the applauses which his brother soldiers bestowed on him. The King received him with open arms. The gates of the Thuilleries, were, for the first time since the 20th, thrown open to receive him; he was met by two soldiers, deputed from the troops of the line in garrison, who begged the honour of carrying him on their arms to the palace.
The city of Rouen has addressed the King, and informed His Majesty, that 20,000 men, at the disposal of the Municipality, are ready to fly to his assistance should it ever be necessary. They have also issued a thundering Phillippic against the Jacobins. It is expected that most of the Departments will address the King, in consequence of the late criminal proceedings at Paris, and promise to support him against all his enemies.
The Jacobines call La Fayette
"a bastard son of Washington”.
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Bury and Norwich Post
Wednesday, August 8, 1792
LETTER from M. LA FAYETTE.
July 26., Fourth Year of Liberty.
The Minster for the Home Department has signified to me an act of the Legislative Body of July 21, and the information which six of its Members have signed.
If I were questioned respecting my principles, I should say, that a constant proclaimer and defender of the Rights of Man, And the sovereignty of the People, I have everywhere and always resisted the authorities which Liberty disavowed, and which the national will had not delegated; and that I have every where, and always, obeyed those of which a free Constitution had determined the forms and the limits.
But I am questioned respecting a fact. - Did I propose to Marshall Luckner to March to Paris with our armies? – To which I answer in 4 words -
It is not true.
La Fayette.
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It is clear from the tone of the first entry above that Lafayette had overestimated his influence while underestimating the power currently possessed by the faction he sought to put in check. His letter and that of Luckner were not well received by the National Assembly. At best, his presence seemed to be deemed as an interruption to legislative duties. At worst, it seemed like a direct threat to the security of the nation in a time of war. Despite the cold reception by the National Assembly and populace of Paris, he was well received by the troops and the King. It is interesting to note that Lafayette justifies his presence by insinuating that he is there to express the concerns of his men, but we know from other contemporary records that a large portion of his army sympathized with the ideals of the National Assembly. Nonetheless, his largely cold reception largely foreshadows the ill fate he is about to endure.
The second entry highlights the degree of suspicion that arose from his unexpected presence at the National Assembly, which was only further fomented by the Brunswick Manifesto Lafayette found himself in a horrible position. The National Assembly thought he was a threat to their power, and as such he was not safe in France. Fearing for his safety, he tried to flee but was apprehended by the Austrians who viewed him as a threat to all monarchs given his undeniable reputation from the American Revolution and his opaque role in the French Revolution. There is little doubt that his published letter was an effort to set the facts straight, but it was too late. Lafayette had no way to escape the misfortune that awaited. It is interesting to note that the letter appears in the August 8th publication of the Bury and Norwich Post. This is just two days before the storming of the Tuileries and the eventual imprisonment of the Royal Family.
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Obverse: The obverse depicts the uniformed bust of Lafayette facing left. His hair is in the traditional Whig style, with a large singular curl protruding from in front of his ear to the rear of his head. Most of his hair falls in a tightly wrapped ponytail secured by a bow with two loops and two loose ends. The upper loose end bisects the two bows while the lower loose end droops below. The ponytail droops behind his shoulder but is weakly struck and only traces be seen towards the tip. Dressed in a traditional military uniform, a medal rests upon his left breast. His left shoulder is adorned with an intricately engraved epaulette. At the tip of the bust, in substantially smaller letters, appears the engraver's name, “
DUMAREST, in the upright position. The legend, “
LAFAYETTE DEPUTE A L’ASS • NAT • CONSTITUANTE NE EN 1757”. is contained within two outer circles and a moderately wide rim.
Reverse: The reverse depicts a wreath comprised of an oak branch on the left and a branch of holly on the right. The two are conjoined at the bottom center by a ribbon with one bow and two loose ends. Unlike the previous entry, the two loose ends closely follow the structure of the branches but do not overlap them. A single line appears immediately above the bow. Just above, an inscription reading “
IL A COMMANDE LA GARDE NATIONAL PARISIENNE EN 1789 1790 ET 1791” appears in four lines. The reverse legend falls just outside the wreath and reads, “
COLLECTION DES FRANCAIS PATRIOTES”. This legend is enclosed within two outer circles and a moderately wide rim.
Edge: SE. VEND. A. PARIS. CHEZ. MONNERON. (PATENTE.)
Size: 35mm
Notes: As I previously mentioned, Tungate (2020) notes that the obverse was engraved by Rambert Dumarest, while the reverse was completed by Noel-Alexandre Ponthon. It is important to note that is a slightly different variety than the other example in this set with a proveo to the Boulton Family Holdings. A close comparison of the write-up for the obverse and reverse of these two medals will highlight a few differences. The most noticeable is that the current example has a lettered edge. This detail suggests that it is not a restrike (i.e., a late Soho piece for those familiar with Peck’s classification). I am still actively researching the pieces struck at the Soho Mint for the Monneron brothers, but I find it interesting that the edge lettering is the same for this medal and the 5 Sol pieces (you can find more on this within my set exploring the coinage struck at Soho). I wonder if this was done intentionally.
References:
Tungate, S. (2020) Matthew Boulton and The Soho Mint: copper to customer. Worcestershire: Brewin Books.