101862 | FRANCE & NEW CALEDONIA. C'gie des Messageries Maritimes bronze Medal.

101862  |  FRANCE & NEW CALEDONIA. Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes bronze Medal. Issued 1952. Commemorating New Caledonia and the Far East/South Pacific private field of the company (59mm, 89.05 g, 12h). By R. B. Baron at the Paris mint.

 

Map of New Caledonia within rectangular border; two exotic birds above, two conch shells below; all within ornate border / COMPAGNIE DES MESSAGERIES MARITIMES, company arms; "CALEDONIEN" / 1952. Edge: «cornucopia» BRONZE.

 

Ruedas –. Choice Mint State. Tan-brown surfaces, withs some dusty green highlights around the devices.

 

The Compagnie des messageries maritimes was founded in 1851 as a French merchant shipping company, ultimately reaching its zenith between the end of the Franco-Prussian War and the beginning of World War I—a period of rapid French colonial expansion. Though it had shipping operations throughout the world, the Far East had become the company's private field, with Saigon in Vietnam becoming one of its second home ports. This medal points to the South Pacific shipping dominion, analogous to other French art medals for passenger shipping lines and their various destination routes.

 

Upload: 1 December 2022.