The Medaille Or de la Municipalité Française

I’d never seen a Medaille Or de la Municipalite Francaise, the highest  award from the French Concession Government. The obverse consists of the coat of arms or seal of the French Concession ringed with a banner reading “Concession Francaise de Changhai” There are tiny design credits of “L Mayol” to the left of the badge and “Paris Art” to the right of the badge. The reverse reads “Merite Civique”. There is also a punch mark on the rim between “concession” and “francaise” which reads 18K, an assay mark as to the gold content.

I’m not sure how many were given out by one was given to Colonel A.F. Marcaire, the long-serving Commander of French Armed Forces in Shanghai. His final campaign was to attempt to suppress Green Gang casinos in Shanghai. In 1932 he, along with some other French Concession dignitaries, was invited to Du Yuesheng’s (Big Eared Du, boss of the Green Gang) Rue Wagner mansion for dinner. Five attended – four, including Marcaire, died of poisoning, one managed to survive and left immediately for France while the host was fine and walked away from the table in perfect health!!