France, III Republic. A Medal for Mutual Aid, Ministry of Labour & Social Welfare Issue, Named to Henri Sensine

(Médaille d'Honneur de la Mutualité). Instituted in 1852. Type V with "Ministère du Travail et de la Prévoyance Sociale" (Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare). In Gold, weighing 17.7 grams, dual cornucopia hallmarked and marked "30R" between the cornucopias on the edge, engraver marked "O. Roty" on the obverse, name engraved "HENRI SENSINE" on the reverse, measuring 26.7 mm (w) x 42.2 mm (h) inclusive of its integral wreath and laterally-pierced ball suspension, large rosette on its original ribbon, extremely fine.

Footnote:

1. The Medal of Honour for Mutual Aid Societies was created by the decree of March 26, 1852 and was later replaced by the Order of Social Merit in 1936. It was awarded by a council of Society members to its most deserving and dedicated members, in three grades: I Class Gold, II Class Silver and III Class Bronze.

2. Henri Sensine was born in 1854 and was a French writer and grammarian. After having fought during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, he served for ten years as the secretary of Élisée Reclus. He settled in Lausanne, Switzerland around 1885, where he taught in boarding schools. He became involved in the French community of the Canton of Vaud, especially during the First World War, and received the Legion of Honour. He died on June 2, 1937 and bequeathed his library of nearly 2,500 works to the Cantonal and University Library of Lausanne. He is the author of grammar books and French language courses, as well as numerous articles, and of a "Chrestomathie", a vast anthology of French poetry.