FRANCE / CAPETIANS - FRANCE / ROYAL Louis XV (1715-1774). Medal, Voltaire from life at the Château de Ferney, by G. C. Waechter 1770, Mannheim. Av. VOLTAIRE BORN ON XX. FEBRUARY MDCXCIV. Bust of Voltaire on the right, signature G. C. WÆCH - TER F. Rv. In a floral frame, an altar of Fame, inscribed TIRÉ D'APRES NATURE AU CHATEAU DE FERNEY G. C. WÆCHTER and below ENGRAVED MDCCLXX. Forrer VI p.338 - Wurzburg 9185 ; Bronze - 66,9 g - 58,5 mm - 12 h Period strike. Small marks on the scrolls and in the fields. Beautiful brown patina. Superb. The bust on the right is reminiscent of that made by Paul-Louis Cyfflé, but here it is made from life by Georg Christian Waechter (1729-1789). Waechter visited the Château de Ferney in 1769. He had produced a first medal of Voltaire, but was only able to print a few copies on Dacier's balances in Geneva before being expelled by the city's magistrates. On his return to Mannheim, he produced two more medals bearing the effigy of Voltaire, creating two new reverse corners