EGYPT - EGYPT Abdülmecid I or Abdul Mejid (1839-1861). Medal, laying of the foundation stone of the fortress of Qalaat Saïdieh by the Viceroy Saïd Pacha 1855. Av. Legend in seven lines. Rv. Aerial view of the delta dam and fortifications, with explanatory captions. Dogan 6571 - Cairo 6219 - Fonrobert 5295 ; Copper - 85,25 g - 64 mm - 12 h NGC TO 58 BN (8218891-001). Minor edge damage at 6 o'clock. With a brown patina, and remains of the original red colour around the reliefs. A superb piece. Commemorates the laying of the foundation stone of the fortress of Qalaat Saïdieh by Viceroy Saïd Pacha near the delta dam on 17 March 1855, his birthday. This work, begun in 1842 at Aboukir, then in Alexandria at the Edkrou channel as far as Rosetta Point, followed a policy of fortifications, orchestrated by Colonel Gallice (sent by the French Minister of War) who had 9,500 men at his disposal [See the article "The Barrage Fortress Medal 1855 of Egyptian Vice-Roy Muhamad Sa'id Pasha" by K. M. MacKenzie in Bulletin 39/40 of the Turkish Numismatic Society, Istanbul 2003, pp.97-99].