1744 (1860-1879) French Geodesic Mission Medal. Betts-Unlisted. Bronze. Mint State. 42 mm. <strong>Obv:</strong> Bust of King Louis XV right, inscription LUD . XV . REX CHRISTIANISS. around, signed FM below. <strong>Rev:</strong> Figure and two cherubs standing on hemisphere, field of nine stars at upper right, inscriptions MENSOR ORBIS TERRARUM above, MISSIS AD AEQUATOREM / ET POLUM ARCTICUM / ASTRONOMIS / M . DCC / XLIV . below in exergue. <strong>Edge:</strong> Stamped (bee) CUIRVE at 6 oclock. Not listed in Betts, this medal commemorates a scientific journey into the heart of South America to locate the Equator. A related expedition headed to the Arctic, in the hopes that the question of the earths proximity to a perfect sphere could be settled.
