Medals of Monaco
For such a tiny country, Monaco has been the source of an impressive number of medals of high quality, to say nothing of gambling chips. Unless otherwise noted, all medals are EF to Perfect Condition.
1903. Centenary of the Birth of Hector Berlioz; Prince Albert I. By Louis Eugne Mouchon, silver, 59 mm., $395.
1903. Maurice de Tallyrand-Prigord (1843-1917), Duc de Dino, 3rd Regiment des Chasseurs dAfrique. By J.-P. Legastellois, silvered uniface galvano with old collection label on back, 50 x 76 mm., $300.
1910. Monaco Pavilion at the International Exposition, Brussels. By Tony Szirmai, bronze, 85 x 77 mm., named to Olga Sacqueleu, wife of the Belgian Consul General Victor Robyns de Schneidauer, $425.
1912. International Dog Show, Monte Carlo. By Tony Szirmai, same obverse as 1910 Brussels Exposition medal, bronze, 85 x 77 mm., named to Tony of M. Berthaud. $295.
1913. First Competition for the International Cup of Hydroaviation. By Tony Szirmai, silvered bronze, 120 mm, in honor of Jacques Schneider. This piece, from the Collection of Dr. Otto Kallir, will be featured in our upcoming auction of Aviation medals.
1913. Fifty Year Anniversary of the Socit des Bains de Mer. By Tony Szirmai, 63 mm. Silver, about EF (tiny bump on edge, due to edge mark applied at mint, $295; bronze, in original case of issue, named to Louis Fabroni, perfect condition, $175; another bronze example, EF, $125; gilt bronze, in original case of issue, perfect condition, $200; another gilt bronze, EF, $150.
1914. Twenty-Five year Jubilee of Prince Albert I, Recognition by Foreign Colonies. Silvered bronze uniface, 55 x 76 mm., named to Walter John Francis Erskine, 12th Earl of Mar, $250.
1930. Socit Canine de Monaco, Diana at the Hunt. By Roberto Falcucci. Gilt bronze, 50 mm., $85; silvered bronze, $65; bronze, $55.
1943. View of Monte Carlo, Arms, Birds Eye View. By Pierre Turin, bronze, 68 mm., $149
1947. Twenty-five Year Jubilee of the Reign of Prince Louis II. By Pierre Turin, bronze, 72 mm., $225.
1949. Ascent of Prince Rainier III to the Throne. By Pierre Turin, 41 mm., gilt silver, in original box of issue, $350; bronze, in original box of issue, $175.
1967. Princess Grace, Food and Agricultural Organization. By Pietro Giampaolo, silver, 50 mm., $250.
1976. Muse National, Collection Madeleine de Galea. By mile Rousseau, bronze, 81 mm., $99.
1982. Princess Grace, Academy Award Oscar. By Kenneth Douglas, silver proof, 39 mm., one ounce pure silver, very commercial quality, $49.
Undated. Socite Canine de Monaco. By Charles Drago, octagonal, 52 x 52 mm., bronze and enamel in original case of issue, $115; another, silvered bronze, VF-EF, $65.
A Selection of Monaco Gaming Tokens from our extensive stock:
The ruling family of Monaco has been the Grimaldis, going back to (arguably) ca. 1300. There have been some interruptions, such as the period of Napoleon. Coins were first issued in 1640.
Douglas Ball told me that the Grimaldis stayed in Italy and did not set foot in Monaco for a couple hundred years. As they began running out of money, they remembered that they owned Monaco, and they developed it as a place to take the waters as a cure. The Socit des Bains de Mer decided it would be nice to operate a casino so the bathers would have something to do in the evenings.
Silver 2-Francs tokens were issued even before 1860, as some bear the pointing hand Paris Mint privy mark used from 1845 to 12/31/1859. Monaco had gold 20-franc and 100-franc coins, which are fairly scarce in Uncirculated, most having spent time on the gaming tables. Brass tokens from the 1920s are common. Celluloid tokens, sometimes with metal inlay or filigree, were issued in a profusion of types and denominations. (None is ivory!) Large square and oval pieces bear denominations up to 2,000,000 Francs. (These come with revaluation stamps, when New Francs replaced the Franc at 100:1, ca. 1960.)
I used to be buddies with one Thomas Day, poster boy for the descriptive gangling bespectacled. He researched the casino chips in the 1970s, and the casino people brought him up to their attic, where there were piles of old celluloid chips. They invited him to take one of each. His subsequent catalog of the tokens is a pamphlet published by the ANA.
A few years later, one very hot summer, the attic overheated and the chips disintegrated. Tom had already sold his Monaco coin collection to Prince Rainier, Princess Graces husband. (Included was the very rare small copper 1640 coin Tom bought from me.) Rainier, gritting his teeth, bought from Tom his reference collection of Monaco casino tokens, but Tom told me he was no longer welcome in the principality.
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I have a rather large inventory of worldwide gambling tokens and chips, in metal, ivory, celluloid and composition. Perhaps half are for Monaco (i.e. Monte Carlo). These sell for about $12-15 to $300. The large, rectangular pieces are normally seen with heavy crazing.
A Selection of Monaco Gaming Tokens from our extensive stock:
Please write to us if interested, of even better, come visit the store.
See out webpage of medals of Pierre Turin.
We have a large stock of medals of all types; Send me your want lists.