FRANCE, Second Empire. Napoléon III, 1852-1870. Medal 1855 (Silver, 34 mm, 15.93 g, 12 h), Award for the Good Head of the Family. By N. Gatteaux, Paris. COLLIGET AVUS / LE BON CHEF DE / FAMILLE Standing man supporting an old woman on his left and a young apprentice busy with a tiller on his right. Rev. Dedication 'D G / le 20 8bre. / 1855' within wreath. Beautiful iridescent toning. Small fingerprints, otherwise, good extremely fine.


This medal originates from the 'Festival of Good People', a pre-revolutionary civic initiative that anticipated the moral pageantry of late 18th-century France. Four variants to honor exemplary individuals were struck (For the good daughter, for the good mother, for the good old man, and for the good head of the family). These awards reflect a community-driven effort to publicly celebrate virtue, duty, and social harmony.