FRANCE - FRANCE Second Empire / Napoleon III (1852-1870). Medal, inauguration of the Bouches du Rhône Prefecture on 1 January 1867, by F. Chabaud, Frappe spéciale (SP) 1864 [1867], Paris. Av. NAPOLEON III - EMPEROR. Head laureate left; below, signature F. CHABAUD. F.; In eight outer compartments, names of personalities present. Rv. PREFECTURE OF BOUCHES DU RHÔNE. View of the façade of the Prefecture, signature CHABAUD - SCULPSIT and below, in ten lines: L'AN MDCCCLXIV LE DOUZIÈME DU RÈGNE DE / NAPOLEON III / EMPEREUR DES FRANÇAIS CE MONUMENT ATÉ CONSTRUIT / S. EXCELce Mr BOUDET ESTANT MINISTRE DE L'INTÉRIEUR / Mr DE MAUPAS SÉNATEUR / CHARGÉ DE L'ADMINISTRATION DU DÉPARTEMENT / Mr BERNEX MAIRE DE LA VILLE DE MARSEILLE / COMMENCÉ PAR Mr MARTIN / TERMINÉ PAR Mr NOLAU / ARCHITtes DU DÉPt. Divo 492 - Essling 1971; Silver - 377.5 g - 90 mm - 12 h Top Pop (2): the most beautiful graded example! PCGS SP63 (51837219). Special strike (SP). Hallmarks (bee) SILVER on the edge. With a grey patina, hardly heterogeneous. Superb at Fleur de coin. Major works were launched in Marseille during the Second Empire: a new stock exchange, a harbour basin and a new cathedral decided in 1852. In 1860, Senator Maupas became responsible for the administration of the Bouches du Rhône department, with powers greater than those of a prefect, and undertook a thorough renovation of Marseille. He was relieved of his duties on 29 December 1866, a few days before the inauguration of the new Prefecture building on 1 January 1867. Only 15 examples of this medal were struck in silver on 8 February 1867 [SAEF, MdP, série X, Ms.330, f°9v].