FRANCE / CAPETIANS - FRANCE / ROYAL Louis XVI (1774-1792). Medal, the Canal du Centre (Loire-Seine), by B. Duvivier (large module) 1783, Paris. Av. LUDOVICO XVI. FR. ET NAVAR. REGI OPTIMO. Cuirassed and draped bust of the King on the right, signature B. DU VIVIER F.; in the exergue: COMITIA BURGUNDIÆ. Rv. UTRIUSQUE MARIS JUNCTIO TRIPLEX. The Loire, the Saône and the Seine to the left, the Rhine further on, to the right, pouring their waters (LIGER, ARAR, SAQUAN., RHEN.); in the middle Burgundy with her coat of arms and a cornucopia laden with grapes beside her, raising a caduceus to her right; signature DUV; in the exergue: FOSSIS AB ARARI / AD LIGER. SEQUAN. RHENUM / SIMUL APERTIS / MDCCLXXXIII. Nocq 216; Bronze - 169.1 g - 73.5 mm - 12 h Antique strike without hallmark, with a beautiful brown patina, with mahogany highlights on the right. Minimal marks in the fields. A superb piece. Commemorates the Canal du Centre or Canal du Charolais, between the Loire and Saône valleys, built between 1784 and 1793. The archives and origins of this medal were the subject of a study by Josèphe Jacquiot, Bull. annuel de la Société d'Archéologie et d'Histoire du Tonnerrois, n° 34, 1981, pp.31-37.