The column in Place Vendome, Paris was commissioned to recognise the success of the Grand Armee in the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 however following Napoleon's defeat the original romanesque statue of Napoleon was torn down and replaced by a flag with the fleur-de-lys representing France. 1830 witnessed another revolution in France which saw Louis Phillipe and the Bourbon's back on the throne, albeit for the last time. In 1833, on the anniversary of this new period in French history, a more realistic statue of Napoleon was reinstated on top of the column and in my collection I have a large copper medal by Emile Rogat commemorating this event (Bramsen 1915; Julius 3900 var.; Essling 1685). This medal has Napoleon's portrait, and in particular the iconic tricorn hat, in very high relief making it quite unusual for the period and also for my collection as I don't have any of the modern high relief coins. How would be best to store this? how do people look after their high relief coins and medals?
