Alphonse Michaux

Alphonse Michaux (1860–1928) was a Belgian coin engraver and medallist.^[1]

Michaux was born in Brussels on 15 December 1860. He was the son of Belgian engraver Robert Michaux (1824–1901), and as a young man studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels.^[2]

Career

Michaux was appointed chief engraver of the Brussels Mint (La Monnaie de Bruxelles) in 1895.^[3] As a coin designer, he is best known for engraving dies for a series of Belgian coins with a distinctive hole in the center.^[4] These coins started circulation in 1901 when 5 and 10 centimes coins where released.

5 Centimes Coin designed by Michaux

The 25 centimes coin was first released in 1908.^[5] Michaux also engraved coins for Luxembourg, Persia, Romania, and Colombia. These coins are signed either "A. Michaux" or "A.M." on the obverse.^[6]

Medal designs

Michaux's medals include:^[7]

• 1888 – Ville de Tournai Halle aux Draps Exposition 1888.
• 1891- Jean-Servais Stas Jubilaire (50 years).
• 1894 – Jeton (28 mm) for Exposition Universelle, Antwerp.
• 1895 – Protection of Childhood.
• 1900 – Shah of Iran’s visit to the Brussels Mint.
• 1901 – 50th Anniversary of the Marriage of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
• 1902 – Birth of the 20th Century.
• 1903 – Centenary of the College of Luxembourg.
• 1905 – Jeton (30 mm) for Exposition Universelle, Leige.^[8]
• 1905 – Centenary of the Republic of Haiti.
• 1906 – 40th Anniversary of the Reign of Carol I of Romania.
• 1907 – Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium.^[9]
• 1908 – Hommage for Ch. Van Der Beken.
• 1910 – Jeton (30 mm) for visitors to the Brussels Mint (Monnaie de Bruxelles – Aujourd’hui)^[10]
• 1912 – Art medal/pendant La Nage St. Gilles
• Circa 1914 – Albert Roi des Bleges, Defenseur de Notre Territoire Nieuport Octobre 1914, WWI^[11]
• 1916 - Elisabeth, Reine des Belges^[12][13]
• Circa 1918 - WWI Memorial Medal/pendant A Nos Braves 1914 – 1918 La Saint Gilloise
• 1926 - Agriculture Exposition, Esschen^[14]
• Agriculture Award medal – Diary Maid with Cow

References

1. Vandamme, Luc and Vanoverbeek, Didier (2011) Alphonse Michaux, Vakman of Kunstennaar, Koninklijke Munt van Belgie, 147 pages.
2. Forrer, L (1909). Biographical Dictionary of Medallists (Vol 4). pp. 64..65.
3. Forrer, L (1909). Biographical Dictionary of Medallists (Vol 4). p. 64.
4. Benedict, Rachel and Axel, Tixhon (2012), La Petite Belgique dans la Grande Guerre, Une Icone, des Images, Presses Universitaires de Namur, p.216.
5. Degroote, Peter. "The Belgian Coins under the Reign of King Leopold II".
6. Forrer, L (1909). Biographical Dictionary of Medallists (Vol 4). p. 64.
7. From Forrer for years 1891 thru 1907 - others as noted:Forrer, L (1909). Biographical Dictionary of Medallists (Vol 4). p. 64.
8. Germanisches National Museum. "Medal 14389". Objektkatalog. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
9. American Numismatic Society, Collection. "Medal 0000.999.48170 Royal Numismatic Society of Belgium". Retrieved 3 May 2016.
10. American Numismatic Society, Collection. "Medal 0000.999.71316 Monnaie de Bruxelles". Retrieved 3 May 2016.
11. Van Ypersele, Laurence (2006) Le Roi Albert:Histoire d'un Mythe, Labor, p 460.
12. Van Dorpe, Emmanuel. "Belgian Medals". The Art Medal entry for Alphonse Michaux. Retrieved 2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
13. The British Museum. "Object 2003,0707.28 medal Elisabeth Reine des Belges". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
14. Jones, Mark (1985) Acquisitions of Medals 1978 - 1982, British Museum Dept. of Coins and Medals, British Museum, p 18.