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Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette: Birth of Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte
Benjamin Duvivier (French, 1730–1819)
French
1778
Mint: Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Metal
Dimensions
Diameter and weight: 41 mm (1 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of J. B. How
Accession Number17.132
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismatics – Medals
DescriptionCircular medal of Louis XVI (1754-1793), king of France, and Marie Antoinette, commemorating the birth of Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte (1778), their first child.
Obverse: Two profile busts of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, overlapping, looking to proper right; inscribed at edge "LUD·XVI·REX CHRISTIANISS:MAR·ANT·AUSTR·REGINA" and under busts "DUVIVIER".
Reverse: Seated female personification (probably France), holding a baby at proper left; inscribed at edge "FOECUNDITATIS AUGUSTAE PIGNUS ET OMEN", at proper right "B. DU VIV", and in exergue "NATAL·MARIAE THER·CAR·/REGIS PRIMOG·/XIX·DEC·/MDCC LXXVIII.".
Obverse: Two profile busts of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, overlapping, looking to proper right; inscribed at edge "LUD·XVI·REX CHRISTIANISS:MAR·ANT·AUSTR·REGINA" and under busts "DUVIVIER".
Reverse: Seated female personification (probably France), holding a baby at proper left; inscribed at edge "FOECUNDITATIS AUGUSTAE PIGNUS ET OMEN", at proper right "B. DU VIV", and in exergue "NATAL·MARIAE THER·CAR·/REGIS PRIMOG·/XIX·DEC·/MDCC LXXVIII.".
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge "LUD·XVI·REX CHRISTIANISS:MAR·ANT·AUSTR·REGINA" and under busts "DUVIVIER".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "FOECUNDITATIS AUGUSTAE PIGNUS ET OMEN", at proper right "B. DU VIV", and in exergue "NATAL·MARIAE THER·CAR·/REGIS PRIMOG·/XIX·DEC·/MDCC LXXVIII.".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "FOECUNDITATIS AUGUSTAE PIGNUS ET OMEN", at proper right "B. DU VIV", and in exergue "NATAL·MARIAE THER·CAR·/REGIS PRIMOG·/XIX·DEC·/MDCC LXXVIII.".
ProvenanceBy 1917, J. B. How; 1917, bequest of J. B. How to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 18, 1917)