The wreathed heads of King Louis XVI of France and his consort Marie Antoinette feature on one side of this silver medal. It was struck to commemorate their executions in 1793 and a view of this event is shown on the reverse side. They were found guilty of treason and died on the guillotine, their heads severed by the drop of an angled blade. This form of capital punishment was developed during the French revolution of 1789–1799 and became a highly popular spectacle. The medal was made in Germany by an unknown maker.
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Small pieces of metal, usually gold, silver, or bronze, bearing a relief design on one or both sides and having a commemorative purpose; not used as a medium of exchange. Medals may also be created to commemorate individuals or events or even as works of artistic expression in their own right.
Glossary: capital punishment