Medallions and coins were often used as propaganda, a practice dating back to the Roman Empire.

1:A 5-franc coin bears the portentous date of 1812.
2:The 1 franc coin of year XII shows Napoleon as First Consul.
3:A medallion of Year VII celebrates the conquest of Lower Egypt.
4:A medallion from the Republic of Italy in year III gives the young Bonaparte the look of a Roman consul.
5:A medallion of 1813 has the more familiar look of the Emperor we know.
6:The reverse of the 1813 medallion (#5) shows a more comforting view of captured standards from the Battle of Wurtchen (Bautzen).
7:A quarter-kreuzer minted in 1812 with a likeness of Francis I.
8:A medallion struck at Napoleon's death lists all his triumphs, civil and military.
9:Reverse of #8.