france – 1806 – napoleon i “hic veritas heic sapientia” – by bertrand andrieu – bronze – first french empire ⸻ description: magnificent large bronze medal celebrating napoleon i, emperor of the french and king of italy, issued in 1806 and engraved by bertrand andrieu, one of the most renowned medalists of the first empire. this medal exalts napoleon as the protector of knowledge and truth, following the creation of major institutions of education and science in france and italy. obverse: laureate bust of napoleon facing left. legend: napoleon francorvm imperator et ital. rex. signed below the truncation: andrieu f. 1806. reverse: allegorical seated female figure representing wisdom, writing on a tablet illuminated by a torch. legend: hic veritas heic sapientia (“here truth, here wisdom”). in exergue: denon dir. de l’imperiale med. referring to dominique-vivant denon, director of the imperial medal mint. engraver: bertrand andrieu mint: paris (medal mint under denon) metal: bronze diameter: 67 mm weight: approx. 85 g condition: very fine / extremely fine. smooth chocolate-brown patina with natural surface toning and excellent detail definition. references: bramsen 447 – julius 1337 – d’auria 1195.