Lot 569
German States -- Berg. Cassa Taler, 1807 (Düsseldorf). Dav-625; Th-111; J-171. 18.89 grams. Joachim Murat, 1806-1808. Head right. Reverse: Crowned and mantled arms. Marvelous portrait! Superb blue-gray toning. Rare. NGC graded MS-64 Prooflike.
Napoleon saw himself in some respects as a new Alexander the Great, conqueror of wide territories, with their disparate peoples melded under the guiding and civilizing genius of French culture. As Alexander was Greek, so too was Greek art put to the service of Napoleon's imperial vision. In fine art, we see at this time the fruition of the emerging movement of Neo-Classicism, a restrained style of almost severe purity of design, harking back to the sculptural styles of 5th and early 4th century B.C. Athens -- but actually emulating the Roman reinterpretation and revival of the style which occurred under Augustus, first Emperor of Rome. On Napoleon's coins, as seen in this splendid example, this artistic idiom was realized in a number of fine, austere and dignified portraits. As Napoleon's military conquests spread over Europe, so too did his coinage.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex Irving Goodman Collection; Illustrated in Money of The World, coin 125.
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| Realized $14,375 |
