418, Lot: 587. Estimate $100. Sold for $340. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRANCE, Troisième République. 1870-1940. Æ Medal (68mm, 115.0 g, 12h). Centenaire de la Banque France. By Louis-Oscar Roty. Dually dated 1800 and 1900. CENTENAIRE DE LA BANQUE DE FRANCE 1800 1900, armored bust of Marianne left, wearing crested and winged Corinthian helmet / CONFIANCE ET TRAVAIL, female figure standinf left, holding book, a second seated left; to left, river and industries; to right, viaduct with train; in incuse in exergue, JACQUES CITERNE. EF.

Collector’s note: “Roty's mastery is such that this medal is uncommonly delicate and graceful even as it crams in myriad detail (reverse features railroad, trestle, tunnel, ships, docks, factories, smokestacks...) The armored female portrait symbolizes strength and speed through an image of unadulterated beauty. The pastoral reverse is mainstream Nouveau, because Roty – more than any other artist of his time - made it so. Overall, this piece could not be more representative both of Roty and of the entire French movement”