FRANCE 1904 ART NOUVEAU "CIVIL CODE CENTENNIAL" BRONZE ART MEDAL BY FREDERIC VERNON 69MM NGC MS62

Beautiful original uncirculated French Art Nouveau Medal certified MS-62 by the Numismatic Guaranty Company.

Frédéric-Charles Victor de Vernon (17 November 1858, in Paris – 28 October 1912 in Paris), was a sculptor and engraver of French medals. He was educated at the École des beaux-arts where his teachers were Jules Cavelier, Jules-Clément Chaplain, and Émile Tasset.

In 1881, he won second grand Prix de Rome and in 1887 the first grand Prix de Rome, after which he spent three years at the Villa Médicis.

In 1900, he designed the official medals for the 1900 Summer Olympics held in Paris. These medals are unique in being the only Olympic medals to be rectangular rather than the traditional circular design.

Member of the Société des artistes français since 1896, he was elected member of the Académie des beaux-arts in 1909.  His son Jean de Vernon (1897–1975), was likewise an engraver, medallist and a French sculptor. A prize for engraving bears his name and that of his son Jean: "Prix Frédéric et Jean de Vernon – Gravure".

During the 1990's and early 2000's I assembled a carefully selected high end collection of hundreds of European (mostly French and Belgian) medals and jetons. The Leonard Collection was the first such collection submitted to the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation for certification. In the process, over 400 pieces were certified. My primary goal was to collect and preserve choice examples of the medallic art of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. I am now beginning to sell many of my personal favorites from this collection. This medal is encapsulated in a special oversize holder measuring 7 1/2" X 5 3/4". 

The medal will ship via USPS Priority Mail.