OK, check out these various medals and tell the world which one is obviously the most attractive: http://www.finemedals.com/marianne.htm Whoever picks the best becomes all-time winner of picking the best medal at the above link. Tell me that's not a title everyone covets!
I was drawn to the first Marianne, but the background is just a tad too busy and I don't like the way her cloak blends with the rim. I also liked the one with the oak tree, particularly the way the branch blends into a headress for Marianne. But her head is just growing out of the ground! That's creepy. My vote: http://www.finemedals.com/marianne7.htm The subtle combination of laurel wreath, seashell helm, and flowing hair is genius. The rooster cuirass is odd at first, but makes much more sense in the national context. And of course, Marianne is fair, much more so than our dumpy old Liberties! I wouldn't mind dancing with her.
I love the Roty medals, sans the bird beak helmet thing, that ruins the whole medal for me. But the Daniel Dupuis are my personal faves. The Roty medal has a variant that was issued for the Louisiana Expo of 1904.
Excellent choice! In fact, this is the exact design which I won an ebay auction for about 8 years ago and the seller withdrew with some cockamame excuse for why he couldn't complete the transaction. I'm still very annoyed, and haven't bought it elsewhere yet. She's very pretty in this rendition.
I kinda like it, it's pretty uncommon. But there is a proportionality that seems necessary. When the visor extends beyond what baseball cap might, it looks awkward to me. But a short one works for me.. so you prefer the full flowing hair look?
Here's the only one I have: http://www.finemedals.com/marianne12.htm I like that the breastplate has a lion rather than the national chicken..
I'm a sucker for the Roty's too... the attention to detail is amazing. I love, love, LOVE a lot of the French designs to the point where I've accumulated a healthy collection of French coins, but I'm almost ashamed to admit I never knew the beauty on the reverse was called Marianne!
At first I couldn't decide....this one was my first choice, but the chicken needs to be eaten instead of resting on her bosom :hammer:: http://www.finemedals.com/marianne7.htm But, in the final analysis, I prefer the simplicity of this one (I dig the ribbon): http://www.finemedals.com/marianne2.htm And as I revisit again, this one comes in very close to #1.....#1A? Very difficult to decide!!!!!!
