Name of Object:

Medal commemorating the opening of the Suez Canal

Location:

Bucharest, Romania

Holding Institution:

National Museum of Romanian History

 About National Museum of Romanian History, Bucharest

Date of Object:

1869

Author:

Louis Oscar Roty (11 June 1846, Paris-23 March 1911, Paris)

Description:

This silver medal designed by O. Roty was struck in 1869, to mark the opening of the Suez Canal, which was built to connect the Mediterranean directly to the Red Sea. On the obverse of the medal is depicted a seated female figure holding the light of Progress in front of the standing figure of Industry. Beyond there is a sketched route of the Suez Canal. In the centre and on the margin of the reverse there are two inscriptions: “Le 17 novembre 1869 le canale maritime a été ouvert à la grande navigation” (On the 17th November 1869 the maritime canal was opened for heavy navigation) and “Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez” (Universal Company of the Suez Maritime Canal). On the coin’s rim is inscribed “L’epargne française prepare la paix du monde” (The French thrift prepares the world peace).

Type of Object

Medal

Citation of this web page:

"Medal commemorating the opening of the Suez Canal" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;rm;6;en

MWNF Working Number: RO 006