Weird Medallion Monnaie De Paris Hotel de Castries

[Pennysaved]

I bought a medallion at a thrift store in a blue presentation case

The box says "Monnaie De Paris" which would be the French Mint

The front of the medallion says Republique Francaise Hotel de Castries and has an engraving of the hotel

The reverse of the medallion says Michel Mercier Ministre de l'espace rural et de l'amenagement du terriroire"

There is a small hallmark on the edge but I cannot even make it out with my loop

Anyone ever seen or heard of this medallion? I even went to the French ebay site and could not find one like it

[Pennysaved]

[Pennysaved]

I did find out something interesting; I had the back of the coin translated on google translator.

Michel Mercier Ministor of rural areas and the planning

I found a French Wikipedia page that said that this office was created in 2009 and the office headquarters was located at the Hotel de Castries.

The office was deleted in 2010 and the power was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.


Do you think this was a special medal presented to Michel Mercier??

[68Camaro]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Mercier

Seems like it

[beauanderos]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Mercier

Seems like it

I sent him an email... but he's not answering it

[Pennysaved]

What kind of metal do you think it is? Weird how this would end up in the states.

[beauanderos]

silver or pewter... and it would be insulting to the recipient if it were merely pewter

[Pennysaved]

I read online that they also made some metals bronze with a silver finish.

Any good way to test it without damaging the medallion?