France René Coty - Président de la République - Bronze par J.H. Coeffin

The bronze commemorative medal of René Coty, created by J.H. Coeffin, is a work of the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint). Josette Hébert-Coëffin (1906-1973), the engraver, marked her era with her talent and technique, leaving a significant imprint in the field of medal making. The edge of the medal bears in relief the national motto: LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE.

The obverse of the medal features a left-profile bust of René Coty, carefully dressed. The artist's signature, J. H. COEFFIN, is discreetly affixed to this face. One can read the inscription "RENE COTY // PRESIDENT / DE LA - REPUBLIQUE / FRANÇAISE // 23 / XBRE / 1953".

Josette Hébert-Coëffin developed her art within the Monnaie de Paris, where she perfected her engraving and medal-making technique. Her creations are distinguished by the addition of a complement to the main subject on the reverse, enriching the work with delicate inspiration. Her work includes nearly 300 medals, including that of President René Coty, which made her the first woman, since the time of François I, to be commissioned to engrave the effigy of the head of state.

Charles de Gaulle was the second President of the Republic to be medalized by her during his term. In 1961, she also created a bust of President Albert Lebrun for the Ecole des mines de Paris. She also created the medal for the 1968 Winter Olympics, which she personally presented to General de Gaulle on January 6, 1968. Jean Cocteau, for his medal, wanted no other medalist than Josette Hébert-Coëffin, as he had loved the cat drawings she had exhibited.