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Commemorative brass jeton depicting General Buonaparte, 1796
Description
A circular portrait jeton of Napoleon, of a type issued in 1796, showing the young general in right-facing profile with long hair and an embroidered military uniform, surrounded by the inscription “HÉROS BUONAPARTE.” The reverse bears “LES FRUITS DE SES ACTIONS” (“The fruits of his actions”) above the date 1796, enclosed within a wreath. Both faces have a finely toothed border.
History & Context
This jeton is thought to be one of the first medallic portraits of Napoleon, dating to 1796, when he rose to international prominence as commander of the French Army of Italy. The Musée Carnavalet holds several examples of this same “Héros Buonaparte” type, catalogued as brass jetons produced in 1796 by an unidentified maker. Its portrait presents the young military commander, years before his appointment as First Consul or proclamation as emperor.
The inscriptions “Héros Buonaparte” and “Les fruits de ses actions” celebrate Bonaparte’s achievements and can be understood as an early expression of the heroic public image that developed around his Italian victories. Such small objects helped circulate his likeness beyond painted portraits and printed engravings. Although this type belongs among the earliest known metallic representations of Bonaparte, its precise position within the sequence of portrait issues produced in 1796 has not been established.
The spelling “Buonaparte” preserves the Italian form of Napoleon’s family name, which he used before adopting the French form “Bonaparte” later in 1796.
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