From the Germinal franc created by Bonaparte First Consul in 1803 to the medals commemorating the return of the Emperor’s mortal remains, from the construction of Napoleon’s effigy to the Legion of Honour, including the Metallic History of Napoleon I produced by Dominique-Vivant Denon and his engravers, the catalogue of the exhibition In the Footsteps of Napoleon I at the Monnaie de Paris – For the Best and for the Empire traces the strong links between this institution and the Emperor of the French. The subjects chosen by Napoleon and executed by the most distinguished engravers, ranging from the celebration of his military exploits to the representation of his profile, in the tradition of the coinage of the kings of France, show how he relied on coins and medals, effective vehicles of communication, to build his power and his glory.

Monnaie de Paris, September 2021 - March 2022