FRENCH REVOLUTION - TOULON (83) - Very rare SAUVETAGE precursor medal, "BELLE ACTION" award (*) - obverse: DE / PAR / TEMENT DU VAR in the center of 2 laurel palms "LA NATION LA LOI ET LE ROI" (THE NATION, THE LAW AND THE KING) - reverse: within a laurel wreath "UN CITOYEN SAUVE 11 AOUT 1790". round 32 mm - bronze with beautiful chocolate patina - very small mintage (n° 175 VAR, Histoire Numismatique de la révolution française) - 12.05 gr - superb condition (*) Seigneurie du Val d'Ardène / Toulon (83) - on July 26, 1781 "La Terre, fief et seignereurie du Val d'Ardène" was sold to the Marquis Monier de Castellet, squadron leader, director of the port and arsenal of the Navy of the Toulon department - Seigneur de Val d'Ardène, he presented his proofs of nobility and was admitted to the Estates General from 1787 to 1789. In August 1790, riots broke out in Toulon. Monier de Castellet, who had retired to his estate, went to Toulon on family business on August 11, 1790. Recognized by the crowd at the entrance to the town, he was threatened and booed, but escaped the mob, who wanted to hang him, thanks to the intervention of the mayor and soldiers from the Dauphiné and Barrois regiments, as well as naval troops, who rescued him 3 times from the hands of the people. By deliberation of the Directoire du département du Var, a medal was struck and awarded to those who "by their generous efforts" saved the life of a citizen. The die was made by Sieur Tassin, who received 180 Livres for his work. The Nation seized the Val d'Ardène in 1794 as émigré property, and Monier de Castellet having fled to Spain, the estate was sold as Bien National on 26 Mexidor An VI.