Third Republic France 1878 Universal Exhibition bronze medal, Palais du Trocadero
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1878
This Third Republic French medal, struck in bronze (AE), commemorates the Palais du Trocadero, a significant structure built for the 1878 Universal Exhibition in Paris.
The medal measures 50.5mm in diameter and weighs 51 grams. The obverse features a bust of the Republic as Ceres, goddess of the harvest, shown in profile facing left. She is adorned with a pearl necklace and a complex crown comprised of wheat, flowers, olive branches, and oak leaves, with the word 'CONCORDE' inscribed on a ribbon crossing her forehead. The obverse inscription reads 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE' accompanied by stars.
The reverse depicts the Trocadero Palace, highlighting its gardens and monumental staircases, with the inscription 'EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE' above and 'PARIS 1878' below, along with 'PALAIS DU TROCADERO' and 'ADMINISTRATION DES MONNAIES ET MEDAILLES'. The medal features a smooth edge and is signed by engravers Eugene Andre Oudine and Alphee Dubois. The Palais du Trocadero itself, noted for its eclectic style, served as an iconic, albeit short-lived, venue for the 1878 exhibition before its eventual dismantling in 1935.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Edge
- smooth
- Weight
- 51 grams
- Diameter
- 50.5mm
- Material
- bronze (AE)
Technical characteristics
- Engravers
- Eugene Andre Oudine, Alphee Dubois
Design
- Obverse
- Bust of Republic as Ceres facing left with crown of wheat, flowers, olive, and oak; inscription 'REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE'
- Reverse
- Trocadero Palace with gardens and staircases; inscriptions 'EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE', 'PARIS 1878', 'PALAIS DU TROCADERO', 'ADMINISTRATION DES MONNAIES ET MEDAILLES'
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Eugene Andre Oudine and Alphee Dubois
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.