Marcel Renault Medal 1872-1903

Medal in homage to Marcel Renault, by F. Vernon 1903 Paris. Front: MARCEL RENAULT/ 1872-1903. Bust of Marcel Renault to the right; signature F. VERNON. Back: VIENNA 1902. Marcel Renault and his mechanic René Vauthier winning the Paris-Vienna race in front of a large crowd. Below cartouche with a laurel branch flanked by the inscription TO THE SUBSCRIBERS/ OF THE MONUMENT ERECTED TO/ THE MEMORY OF/ MARCEL/ RENAULT – TESTIMONY/ OF RECOGNITION. Silver – 42.5 x 55.7mm – 12 o'clock. – Hallmark on the edge: Cornucopia. Excellent condition. Rare silver plaque, paying homage to Marcel Renault (1872-1903), co-founder of the Renault automobile industrial empire. He died at the age of 31 following an accident during the 1903 Paris-Madrid race. Vernon: In 1881, he won the first Second Grand Prix de Rome and in 1887, the first Grand Prix de Rome in medal and fine stone engraving, after which he spent three years at the Villa Medici in Rome.