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Following the French Revolution in 1791, master engraver Augustin Dupré was called on to create new currency for the Paris Mint. On the coins reverse, he featured the génie ailé, or winged genius. Standing contrapposto, his outstretched arm inscribes Frances constitution. Over time, collectors began to refer to Gold coins bearing Duprés design as guardian angel coins.
Folklore surrounding the lucky Gold angel coin began with Dupré himself. Varying legends claim that an angel coin saved Dupré from death by guillotine. In one account, as he bowed his head beneath the blade, he rubbed a Gold angel coin in his hand and prayed desperately for his life to be spared. A nearby bolt of lightning threw the executioner and crowd of onlookers into a panic before the blade could be dropped. Duprés execution was stayed and months later he was freed. Alternate versions of the story claim that Dupré kept his head simply by allowing the executioner to keep the Gold.
Duprés winged genius design was used on several denominations of French angel coins throughout the 19th century. Legends continued to follow the coins. It was said that Napoléon Bonaparte carried a Gold angel coin with him every day but lost it shortly before his defeat at Waterloo. Ship captains, fighter pilots and soldiers involved in conflicts across the globe and during both World Wars were known to carry guardian angel coins along with their gear for special protection.
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