Medal of General Lafayette

Object Name: 
Medal of General Lafayette

Notice of Upcoming Content and Access Change

The Museum is working on the future of our online collections access. A new version will be available later in 2023. During this transition period, the current version of the Collections Browser may have reduced functionality and data may be not be updated. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For any questions or concerns, please contact us.

What is AAT?

The Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) (r) is a structured vocabulary for generic concepts related to art and architecture. It was developed by The Getty Research Institute to help research institutions become consistent in the terminology they use.Learn More

Object Name: 
Medal of General Lafayette
Place Made: 
Accession Number: 
85.7.6
Dimensions: 
Overall Diam: 4.7 cm
Location: 
Not on Display
Date: 
1824
Credit Line: 
Gift of The Honorable and Mrs. Amory Houghton, by exchange
Primary Description: 
Dark brown copper; stamped (minted). Flat, circular shape, on the obverse a male bust-length portrait facing sinister, wearing a soft coat; inscribed "GENERAL LAFAYETTE" above, "CAUNOIS FRENCH." below the shoulder, and ".1824." on the shoulder; on the reverse, sprays of oak leaves and acorns tied with a ribbon, around the inscription "THE DEFENDER/OF AMERICAN AND/FRENCH LIBERTY./1777-1824./BORN IN CHAVANIAC,/THE 6 SEPTEMBER/1757."
Department: 
Provenance: 
Stack's Numismatics, Former Collection
1985-10-30
Houghton, The Honorable Amory (American, 1926-2020), Source
1985-10-30
Houghton, Laura (Mrs. Amory), Source
1985-10-30
Color: 
Technique: 
Inscription: 
GENERAL LAFAYETTE
Inscription
on obverse: above portrait
THE DEFENDER/OF AMERICAN AND/FRENCH LIBERTY./1777-1824./BORN IN CHAVANIAC,/THE 6 SEPTEMBER/1757.
Inscription
on reverse
.1824.
Inscription
on obverse: on shoulder
CAUNOIS FRENCH
Inscription
on obverse: belown shoulder