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1788, Roayal France. Silver "Philomatic Society of Paris Foundation" Medal. XF-

Mint Place: Paris Mint Year: 1788 (original contemporary strike without edge marking!) Denomination: Award Medal - Foundation of the Philomatic Society of Paris during 1788.  Condition: Hairlines from improper handling/cleaning, numerous bag-marks/nicks, otherwise a nicely toned XF-AU! Diameter: 23mm Weight: 4.68gm  Material: Silver

Obverse: Date (1788) within wreath. Legend: SOCIETE (three bees) PHILOMATIQUE Exergue: PARIS .      Reverse: Motto of the society ("Study and friendship.") within wreath. Legend: ETUDE ET AMITIE .

The Société Philomathique de Paris was a private scientific society founded a mere three weeks before 1789 - just in time to qualify as prerevolutionary. It served as a meeting-ground primarily for young scientists emarking on their careers. Many of these men went on to become leading figures in French science. The Society´s "Bulletin des sciences" was noteworthy as one of the earliest examples of professional scientific journalism in France. And by no means the least interesting feature of the Society is that it managed to survive the Revolution and prosper under the regimes that followed.

A philomatic society is an association of persons who love sciences. The term "philomatic" (in French, philomathique) is no longer in use. The philomatic societies were influential in the nineteenth century. The most remarkable was the Philomatic Society of Paris (Société Philomathique de Paris).

This Society was created on 10 December 1788 by Augustin-François de Silvestre, Alexandre Brogniard, Audirac, Broval, Petit and Riche. It was defined by J.-André Thomas, one of its members, as:

"La Société Philomathique de Paris est une société scientifique et philosophique pluridisciplinaire, de haut niveau. On en devient membre par cooptation, puis par vote de substitution, car le nombre de ses adhérents est limité. Elle est républicaine, non secrète, entièrement ouverte à la connaissance, farouchement indépendante; elle cultive l'authenticité, la tolérance, la liberté."

"The Philomatic Society of Paris is a high-level multidisciplinary scientific and philosophical society. One becomes a member by co-option, then by substitution vote as the number of members is limited. The Society is republican, non-secret, and fully open to knowledge, fiercely independent; it promotes authenticity, tolerance and freedom."

Many great scientists belonged to the Société: Lavoisier, Laplace, Lacroix, Cuvier, Gay-Lussac, Ampère, Cauchy, Fresnel, Pasteur, Becquerel, De Broglie. Since 1944, the Société has had eleven Nobel Prizes awarded to scientists among its members, and seventeen to emeritus members (including Dirac, Heisenberg, Morgan, and Planck).

The Société declined in importance after World War II. Although the Société still exists, it is poorly known and not very influential, partly due to lack of funds.

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