France, Napoleonic Kingdom. An Army of Italy General-in-Chief Napoleon Bonaparte Commemorative Medal 1796
In silvered copper, cast, obverse illustrating Napoleon Bonaparte with long hair and wearing an embroidered uniform, surrounded by the inscription "BUONAPARTE GENERAL EN CHEF DE LA BRAVE ARMEE D'ITALLIE" and engraver marked "P.F.", reverse illustrating a seated and helmeted Minerva holding branches of oak leaves and laurel leaves in her outstretched right arm, her left arm resting upon a shield bearing a fasces, with trophies of arms including two battle standards, a drum, the barrel of a cannon and cannon balls placed behind her and at her feet, the date "1796" below, surrounded by the inscription "VOILA SOLDATS VALEUREUX LE FRUIT DE VOS TRAVAUX", measuring 41.5 mm in diameter, edge nicks, contact marks, spotting, scattered silvering wear, fine.
Footnote: The Army of Italy (Armée d'Italie) was a field army of the French Army stationed on the Italian border and used for operations in Italy itself. Though it existed in some form in the sixteenth century through to the present, it is best known for its role during the French Revolutionary Wars (in which it was one of the early commands of Napoleon Bonaparte, during his Italian campaign) and the Napoleonic Wars.