Description
FRANCE / EGYPT 1869 Opening of the Suez Canal for the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez 42mm silver medal 40.06 grams, by Louis-Oscar Roty, (Divo 606)
Obverse: seated female figure holds aloft the light of Progress to the standing figure of Industry, beyond, a sketched route of the Suez Canal, L'EPARGNE . FRANÇAISE . PRÉPARE . LA . PAIX . DV . MONDE . (Trans: French economy prepares the peace of the world)
Reverse: COMPAGNIE . VNIVERSELLE . DV . CANAL . MARITIME . DE . SVEZ / LE /17 . NOVEMBRE / 1869 / LE . CANAL . MARITIME / A . ETE . OUVERT / A . LA / GRANDE . NAVIGATION (Trans: The Universal Company of the Suez Sea Canal. On 17 November 1869 the sea canal was opened for grand navigation.
Edge: Cornucopia Privy Mark (Paris Mint) ARGENT
Provenance: ex. Baldwin's - nothing comes with this medal to indicate the provenance but the medal came from a pre World War II collection and the pieces were hidden away in a biscuit tin without explanation, wrapped in old newspapers from April 1939 to 1947 (though missing the War years). The clue for the gap might be revealed by the newspapers. Amongst the UK papers, The Times and The Daily Mail, there is also a copy of The Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald. The newspapers do not come with the medal.
Click the links below for the history of the Suez Canal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-35uMLejQ8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal
Photo of the opening is not included
