Description

This bronze medal was issued in 2016 on the occasion of the centenary of the Great War, specifically commemorating the Battle of Verdun, one of the deadliest and most symbolic confrontations of the First World War.

The Battle of Verdun took place from 21 February to 18 December 1916 on the French front, pitting French and German armies against each other in a conflict of unprecedented intensity. It claimed several hundred thousand victims on both sides and remains, in French collective memory, the symbol of the resistance and sacrifice of the soldiers of the First World War. The site of Verdun, in the Meuse department, continues to this day to be a major place of remembrance.

The year 2016 marked the exact centenary of this battle, giving rise to numerous official commemorations in France and across Europe, as well as the striking of various coins and medals intended to preserve the memory of this historic event. This medal forms part of that commemorative context.

The material used is bronze, a traditional alloy in numismatics and medal-making, recognised for its durability and its characteristic visual appearance, offering warm tones ranging from golden brown to dark brown depending on the surface condition and the patina developed over time.

As a collector's item, this medal holds both historical and numismatic interest, connected to one of the most significant chapters in European military history of the twentieth century. It appeals to collectors specialising in commemorative medals as well as to enthusiasts of military history and the memory of the Great War.