France: Saint Helena Medal 1792-1815 (Medaille de Sainte-Helene 1792-1815). With a white metal Napoleonic 'Imperial Eagle' emblem on riband

The 'Imperial Eagle' emblem possibly silver, and an eye-catching contemporary embellishment, as worn by a proud Napoleonic veteran

The first official campaign medal to be awarded by the French Government

The medal has on the obverse the angled 'Foul Anchor' mark for Désiré-Albert Barre, General coin engraver, Paris Mint (1855-1878)

The St. Helena Medal was awarded retrospectively to veterans of the 'Grande Armee' who had fought, and or otherwise served during the various campaigns and wars of the Napoleonic era 1792-1815

The Saint Helena Medal was awarded to all French and foreign soldiers, from the land armies or naval fleets, who served the Republic or the Empire between the years 1792 and 1815 inclusive. The medal was awarded with no condition of minimum time of service in any one campaign; but it was, however, necessary to prove one's right to the medal with a record of service or leave record at the time of application.

A later decree of 16 April 1864, added the Saint Helena Medal to the list of awards that could be revoked following a condemnation to a fixed prison term of one year or more for a crime committed by the recipient

A most evocative example of the medal, and very scarce seen with the 'Imperial Eagle' emblem

Condition: GVF

Code: 24317