DESTRUCTION AND RESTORATION OF THE CITY OF RENNES

ROETTIERS, Joseph Charles: France, 1732, Bronze, 59 mm
Obv: Bust of Louis XV    LUDOVICUS XV. REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS
Rev: Personification of Rennes holding shield of arms    RHEDONAE INCENSAE ANNO 1720 RESTAURATAE ANNO 1731 (The Fire of the Rhedone in 1720; Rebuilt in 1731)
Exergue:  M DCC XXXII
Signed:  J.C. ROETTIERS (in script)
The piece is struck in two halves.

Rennes (formerly called Condate) is a town in western France, formerly the capital of Brittany. It is the chief city of the Redones. In Roman times it was in Lugdunensis Tertia and became the center of Roman roads. Later Rennes was notable as the site at which the dukes were crowned; before entering the city they had to swear to preserve the privileges of the church, the nobles and the commons of Brittany. The town was destroyed after seven days of fire in 1720 and was for the most part rebuilt of dark granite. It is this destruction and restoration of Rennes that the medal commemorates.

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