French Victory Medals

[Bilco]

Hi Rob,

I'm interested to see the version with the blank central disk. It looks significantly smaller than the other medal. I have an example which is the same size as the standard :

Diameter 36.5mm, thickness 2.3mm, with the Delande punch and BRONZE on the edge. I gave it a gentle clean, and it appears to be Delande's  bronze doré, like yours.

Bill

[sumserbrown]

Hi Bill

sorry for the slow response, I had to buy some new calipers. My type 2 is 36.1mm diameter and 2.2mm thick at the 3 o'clock position . The 2c is 27mm diameter and 1.4mm thick

Rob

[Jean-Michel]

Hello Rob,

Your 27mm model in gilded bronze on the flankless reverse, is not an Allied medal. However, Alexlander J. LASLO considered it unofficial type 1a. Alexander Laslo mentions that the stock of this medal has been used for other medals, except that it is the reverse. The house "Delande" made this medal with the blank reverse for various associations.

In 1921, France still not having an official model, the military wore either a Belgian uniface model or a Charles model, the "Delande" house therefore took the opportunity to publish a model from its generic model.
This model was marketed in the catalog of the house "Delande" in June 1921.
If one follows logic, there are only two medals which were produced exclusively as an Allied medal, the official model "Morlon" and the unofficial "Charles" model. This is why on my site, I do not classify the "Pautot-Mattéi" and "Charles" medals as official models but as curiosities.
However, your medal remains interesting, because according to the ribbon,
I think if Alexander J. Laslo was still in the world he would have published a new book, because at the time he wrote his last book he did not have the internet resources that we have today.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you on the quality of the models you own.
Best regards,

Jean-Michel

[sumserbrown]

On 11/01/2022 at 12:07, Jean-Michel said:

Hello Rob,

Your 27mm model in gilded bronze on the flankless reverse, is not an Allied medal. However, Alexlander J. LASLO considered it unofficial type 1a. Alexander Laslo mentions that the stock of this medal has been used for other medals, except that it is the reverse. The house "Delande" made this medal with the blank reverse for various associations.

In 1921, France still not having an official model, the military wore either a Belgian uniface model or a Charles model, the "Delande" house therefore took the opportunity to publish a model from its generic model.
This model was marketed in the catalog of the house "Delande" in June 1921.
If one follows logic, there are only two medals which were produced exclusively as an Allied medal, the official model "Morlon" and the unofficial "Charles" model. This is why on my site, I do not classify the "Pautot-Mattéi" and "Charles" medals as official models but as curiosities.
However, your medal remains interesting, because according to the ribbon,
I think if Alexander J. Laslo was still in the world he would have published a new book, because at the time he wrote his last book he did not have the internet resources that we have today.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you on the quality of the models you own.
Best regards,

Jean-Michel

Thanks Jean-Michel, that is very interesting. Do you happen to know how rare the 27mm Pautot-Mattei model is compared to the normal version?

Rob

[Jean-Michel]

Hello Rob,

The 27mm model is rare with the inscription on the reverse "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION 1914-1918", I saw it a few times at auction in Paris. It's one of my regrets not to have bought one of these models, but at the time, my collection was not only focused on the victory medal. I do not despair of finding a copy.

For your medal, it is an unusual medal by its size and its gilded metal, but it lacks the inscription on the reverse to make it a true unofficial model.

https://www.medaillesinteralliees.fr/france-2
Regards,

 

Jean-Michel

[sumserbrown]

On 21/04/2022 at 19:12, Jean-Michel said:

Hello Rob,

The 27mm model is rare with the inscription on the reverse "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION 1914-1918", I saw it a few times at auction in Paris. It's one of my regrets not to have bought one of these models, but at the time, my collection was not only focused on the victory medal. I do not despair of finding a copy.

For your medal, it is an unusual medal by its size and its gilded metal, but it lacks the inscription on the reverse to make it a true unofficial model.

https://www.medaillesinteralliees.fr/france-2
Regards,

 

Jean-Michel

Thanks Jean-Michel,

your information, as always, is extremely useful.

Rob