EGYPT - EGYPT Franz Joseph I (1848-1916). Gold medal in the module of 92 ducats, opening of the Suez Canal in the presence of the Emperor, by J. Tautenhayn, Special strike (SP) [1869], later re-strike (c.1950), Vienna. Av. * FRANCISCVS. IOSEPHVS. I. D. G. AVSTRIAE. IMPERATOR. ET. HVNGARIAE. REX. APOST. Head laureate right; below signature J. TAVTENHAYN. Rv. Allegory of Egypt seated on a sphinx, holding a plan of the canal, between the three pyramids and a ship. In the exergue: ADVENTVS. AVGVSTI. IN. AEGYPTVM / OB. APERIVNDAM. FOSSAM. SVEZIANAM / MDCCCLXIX. Mont.cf. 3807 - Würz. cf. 2484 ; Gold - 322.1 g - 71.3 mm - 12 h Top Pop: the only graded example! PCGS SP62 (51879710). Marks partially erased on the edge: 986 in a rectangle and ear of corn: 1950s re-stamping from the original corners. Signature incompletely remounted. Minimal hairlines and fingerprints in the fields. Spectacular. Superb at Fleur de coin. The inauguration of the Suez Canal by Empress Eugenie took place in the presence of the Khedive of Egypt, Ismail Pasha, the Emperor and Empress of Austria, and the Crown Prince of Prussia, on 17 November 1869.