Description
BELGIUM, Death of the Duke of Orléans, 1842, 72mm copper medal 208 grams by Laurent Joseph Hart, uniformed bust left, rev. Belgica laying wreath on tomb, highly lustrous
Obverse: Bust of duke facing left FERDINAND P.L.C.H. DUC D'ORLEANS / HART F.
Rev: A female figure places a wreath upon a tableau draped with the crowned arms of Ferdinand; to the left and the right are oblong panels inscribed: BELGIQUE and ALGERIE. Around: JAMAIS DOULEUR NE FUT PLUS SINCERE (Never a Regret Was More Sincere).
Exergue: CHAMBRES LEGISTATIVES DE BELGIQUE VI AOUT MDCCCXLII / HART FECIT
Ferdinand Philip Louis Charles Henry, Duke of Orleans (1810-1842) was the son of Louis Philippe, the future King of France, and Marie Amelie, princess of the Two Sicilies. He was active as a soldier in the revolution in Belgium (1831-1832) and, as lieutenant general, served in the campaigns in Algeria (1835-1840). He died in 1842 after an accident at Neuilly, near Paris. This medal was issued to commemorate his death.
