Medal of Honour for Acts of Devotion and Life Saving, Navy, Gold Medal (stamped "GAYRARD F." "PUYMAURIN D.")

SKU: 02.FRA.0143.101.01

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Attributes

  • country
    France
  • date of institution
    March 2, 1820
  • makers
    Monnaie de Paris

History


The Medal of Honour for Acts of Devotion and Life Saving is among the longest conferred awards in French history, and it has undergone many changes in design and grades since its inception.

Life saving medals were awarded under Louis XIV and Louis XVI, however the first official decoration was not established until March 2, 1820. The instructions of September 18, 1956 and April 14, 1970 outline the current form of the award.

It is awarded for acts of courage during a rescue, and may be bestowed to individuals and whole units. Any person who risks his or her life to come to the rescue of one or many persons in danger, may be recognized with the medal.

The Medal of Honour for Acts of Devotion and Life Saving is classified into three types according the division that bestowed it. Type I Medals were awarded by the Ministry of the Navy; Type II Medals were awarded by the Merchant Marine; and Type III Medals were awarded by the Ministry of the Interior.

In Type I (Navy), it was awarded to military personnel of the Navy for life saving acts at sea, to civil and military personnel for life saving acts performed at an establishment of the Navy, and to all other citizens for life saving acts performed at an establishment of the Navy.

During the Second Restoration under Louis XVIII, the Medals were non-wearable, although they may have been rendered wearable with a ring suspension and a white ribbon.

Type I Medals are classified into three types; Type I (1820-1848) includes the first two grades, Type II (1848-1870) includes four grades Medals, and Type III includes the grades since 1870.

The obverse inscription translates to “Louis XVIII King of France and Navarre,” and the reverse inscription translates to “Ministry of the Navy.”

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Versions

  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Gold

  • Inscription

    Obv: LOUIS XVIII ROI DE FRANCE ET DE NAV. Rev: MINISTÈRE DE LA MARINE [RECIPIENT DETAILS]

  • Size

    41mm

  • Maker

    Monnaie de Paris

  • Version Remarks

    This Medal was engraved by Raymond Gayrard and the Jean-Pierre Casimir de Marcassus, Baron de Puymaurin. The Monnaie de Paris is list...

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  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Gold

  • Inscription

    Obv: CAROLVS.X.REX.FRANCIAE. Rev: MINISTÈRE DE LA MARINE [RECIPIENT DETAILS]

  • Size

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version was engraved by Raymond Gayrard.

  • View Item
  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Gold

  • Inscription

    Obv: CHARLES X ROI DE FRANCE ET DE NAV Rev: MINISTÈRE DE LA MARINE [RECIPIENT DETAILS]

  • Size

    41mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

  • View Item
  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Gold

  • Inscription

    Obv: LOUIS PHILIPPE I ROI DES FRANCAIS Rev: MINISTERE DE LA MARINE [RECIPIENT DETAILS]

  • Size

    41mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version was engraved by Raymond Gayrard, Armand-Auguste Caqué, and Joseph Pingret.

  • View Item
  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Gold

  • Inscription

    Obv: LOUIS PHILIPPE I ROI DES FRANCAIS Rev: MINISTERE DE LA MARINE ET DES COLONIES [RECIPIENT DETAILS]

  • Size

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version was engraved by Raymond Gayrard, Armand-Auguste Caqué and Joseph Pingret.

  • View Item
  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Gold

  • Inscription

    Obv: LOUIS PHILIPPE I ROI DES FRANCAIS Rev: MINISTERE DE LA MARINE ET DES COLONIES [RECIPIENT DETAILS]

  • Size

    41mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version was engraved by Fleury Montagny and Joseph Pingret. After 1835, the engraver's name "PINGRET" on the reverse is replaced by ...

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  • Price

    N/A

  • Composition

    Gold

  • Inscription

    Obv: LOUIS PHILIPPE I ROI DES FRANCAIS MINISTÈRE DE LA MARINE [RECIPIENT DETAILS]

  • Size

    41-43mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version was engraved by Fleury Montagny and Joseph Pingret. From 1840-1841, the reverse is not signed. There may be versions with th...

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