418, Lot: 583. Estimate $200. Sold for $120. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRANCE, Troisième République. 1870-1940. Æ Medal (56x70mm, 96.4 g, 12h). Contemplation – Trial strike. By Auguste Maillard. Female figure seated facing, head left, holding open book and placing arm around boy standing left; sunrise in background / 2 at center; 0 1 0 7 in corners. EF, small spot of corrosion.

Collector’s note: “Normally, the Contemplation Medal is uniface. No so in this instance. It is a rare Paris Mint attempt medal (each attempt was numbered, and this one has inverted number 2 on reverse side). This specimen is exceedingly rare as an attempt (mint trial) medal. It is unique as the second attempt! The obverse scene was ultimately mated with a blank reverse type. A fascinating oddity.”