France. Médaille en argent "Retour des Cendres de Napoléon I, passage à Rouen" 1840 (No reserve price)

Important and rare French silver medal dedicated to the Return of the Ashes of Emperor Napoleon I and to the passage of his mortal remains to Rouen in December 1840.
Medal engraved by Alexis-Joseph Depaulis, produced during the reign of Louis-Philippe I.
Metal: silver
Weight: 130.5 g
Diameter: 63 mm
Edge: punch with the ship's prow followed by “ARGENT”
This edge punch is clearly visible in the photographs.
Obverse
Bust of Napoleon I facing left, laurelled and draped.
Legend:
SAINTE HELENE V MAI MDCCCXXI
In the field, signature of the engraver:
DEPAULIS F.
At the bottom is the famous will attributed to Napoleon:
“I DESIRE THAT MY CEMETERY REMAIN AT THE BANKS OF THE SEINE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS FRENCH PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SO LOVED.”
Reverse
Very beautiful and spectacular depiction of the passage to Rouen of Napoleon I’s mortal remains, with the ship, the monumental architecture and the elevated decorations for the ceremony.
Top legend:
S.A.R. THE PRINCE OF JOINVILLE COMMANDER OF THE EXPEDITION
In the lower part:
PASSAGE TO ROUEN
OF THE MORTAL REMAINS
OF EMPEROR NAPOLEON
THE 10TH OF DECEMBER MDCCCXL
The Prince of Joinville, son of King Louis-Philippe, commanded the expedition charged with bringing Napoleon I’s remains from Saint Helena to France.
References
Bramsen 1980
Essling 1687
Particularly sought-after type in its grand version in 63 mm silver.
A comparable silver example, also of 63 mm diameter and weight close to 130 g, is referenced by iNumis for this same type “Return of the Ashes – Passage to Rouen.”
Condition
Very beautiful old piece displaying a natural dark patina, with fine relief and many details still perfectly visible.
Presence of scratches, hairlines, wear and signs of old use, especially in the fields. A surface alteration area is particularly visible in the field in front of the portrait.
These defects are deliberately left perfectly visible in the photographs and have not been masked.
The medal has not undergone any cleaning or polishing by me.
The photographs are an integral part of the description and allow precise assessment of the condition.
Superb and imposing Napoleonic historical silver medal of 130.5 g, dedicated to one of the major events of the Napoleonic cult in the 19th century: the Return of the Ashes in 1840.