by Mylène Sultan
“Banque de France” medal, 1809, gold, 68 mm (2.68 in), 264 gr (9.3 oz), engraved by Pierre Droz (1746-1823), allegory of the Banque de France on the reverse, from the Emperor’s private collection. © Cécil Mathieu - Banque de France
To penetrate into the inner sanctum, you must first show your credentials, exchange your ID for a badge, pass through an armored security gate, walk through wide corridors and descend deep into the building’s bowels until at last reaching a mysterious red double door. Once the ornate, artistic covers concealing the lock are located, the yellow and black keys, each held by a different person, are turned; the lock clicks. Heavy, 1,850-kilogram steel doors swing open... read more
