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Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette: Birth of the Dauphin
Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux (French, 1751–1832)
French
1781
Mint: Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Metal; silver
Dimensions
Diameter and weight: 33 mm (1 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of J. B. How
Accession Number17.103
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismatics – Medals
DescriptionCircular medal of Louis XVI (1754-1793), king of France, and Marie Antoinette, commemorating the birth of the dauphin, Louis-joseph-Xavier-François (1781).
Obverse: Two profile busts of Louis XVI at proper right and Marie Antoinette at proper left looking at center; inscribed at edge "LUD·XVI·FR·ET NAV·REX MAR·ANT·AUST·REG·FR·" and below "N·GATTEAUX·".
Reverse: Seated female personification (probably of France) holds a child (dauphin) to proper right; inscribed at edge "FELICITAS PUBLICA" and in exergue "NATALES DELPHINI/DIE XXII OCTOBRIS/MD CCLXXXI".
Obverse: Two profile busts of Louis XVI at proper right and Marie Antoinette at proper left looking at center; inscribed at edge "LUD·XVI·FR·ET NAV·REX MAR·ANT·AUST·REG·FR·" and below "N·GATTEAUX·".
Reverse: Seated female personification (probably of France) holds a child (dauphin) to proper right; inscribed at edge "FELICITAS PUBLICA" and in exergue "NATALES DELPHINI/DIE XXII OCTOBRIS/MD CCLXXXI".
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge "LUD·XVI·FR·ET NAV·REX MAR·ANT·AUST·REG·FR·" and below "N·GATTEAUX·".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "FELICITAS PUBLICA" and in exergue "NATALES DELPHINI/DIE XXII OCTOBRIS/MD CCLXXXI".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "FELICITAS PUBLICA" and in exergue "NATALES DELPHINI/DIE XXII OCTOBRIS/MD CCLXXXI".
ProvenanceBy 1917, J. B. How; 1917, bequest of J. B. How to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 18, 1917)