FRANCE - FRANCE Third Republic (1870-1940). Medal, Paris Universal Exhibition prize by J. C. Chaplain, Flan mat 1900, Paris. FRENCH REPUBLIC. In a background of the city of Paris, under an oak tree with a branch serving as an oak wreath, the head of Marianne on the right with long hair, wearing the Phrygian cap. Rv. EXHIBITION. UNIVERSAL. INTERNATIONAL. Above Paris and the buildings of the International Exhibition, a flying Victory holding a palm and a crown, surmounted by a man in an apron holding a torch; in the field on the right the (date) and below signature J. C. CHAPLAIN; in the exergue, a cartouche with the attribution. Maier 79; Gold - 175.19 g - 64 mm - 12 h With attribution in relief: L. BREITMEYER, E. BERNHEIM / AND BARON J. DE GÜNZBURG. PCGS MS65 (50526751). Gold horn hallmark on edge. Struck on a matt blank, the velvet showing only minor handling scratches. Spectacular with a very nice attribution. Almost Fleur de coin. Although many gold medals were awarded at the 1900 Universal Exhibition, it would appear that few were actually issued in gold. Gold bronze medals were awarded to gold medal winners. The First World War may also have been a reason for the disappearance of gold copies, as governments encouraged the recasting of gold to support the war effort. As the Exhibition regulations only mentioned diplomas as awards, it is likely that the medals were ordered by the winners, at their own expense and in the metal of their choice, corresponding as closely as possible to their category. This example is attributed to Ludwig Breitmeyer, Émile Bernheim and Baron Jacques de Günzburg, of Paris, in group XV, class 95, concerning the jewellery exhibition. Baron Jacques de Günzburg is listed as exhibitor No. 96 in this section. He was the representative of the syndicate buying diamonds from the Jagersfontein mine in South Africa, of which Ludwig Breitmeyer and Émile Bernheim were directors. They exhibited a 239-carat diamond extracted from their mine, cut from a 634-carat rough stone and dubbed the "Jubilee" because it was cut in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. At the time, it was the largest diamond in the world! It is the property of Wernher, Beit & Co, the world's largest mining company based in South Africa. Today, it is owned by the Mouawad family of Lebanese jewellers, and is the sixth largest cut colourless diamond in the world. Jacques de Günzbourg, born Gabriel-Jacob, was a Russian industrialist and banker from Saint Petersburg. He was active in a number of banking companies, as well as in gold and diamond activities in South Africa, which he floated on the Paris stock exchange. Ludwig Breitmeyer and Émile Bernheim are diamond buyers and work for several companies, including De Beers, where they are deputy directors. * Following Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of April 5, 2022, implemented in national law from 01/01/2025, buyers from within the EU have to pay 5.5% VAT on the hammer price of this lot. * Following Council Directive (EU) 2022/542 of April 5, 2022, implemented in national law from 01/01/2025, buyers from within the EU have to pay 5.5% VAT on the hammer price of this lot.