Joseph-Pierre Braemt

Joseph-Pierre Braemt (15 June 1796 – 2 December 1864) was a Belgian medalist and coin designer.^[1][2]

Joseph-Pierre Braemt
Born	15 June 1796 Ghent, French First Republic
Died	2 December 1864 Brussels, Belgium
Nationality	Belgian
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK) Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
Occupation	Medalist

Biography

After training at the academies of Ghent and then Brussels,^[2] Joseph-Pierre Braemt perfected his craft in Paris with the engraver André Galle and Baron François Joseph Bosio, a renowned sculptor of the time.

He was appointed general engraver of the Hôtel des Monnaies in Brussels and produced the first Belgian coins.

He was a founding member of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium.

Works

Waterloo medal by Braemt

His work includes the following:

• 1826 : medal commemorating the completion of the digging of a canal between the Haine and the Escaut, under the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,^[3]
• 1830 : medal of recognition to the Garde civique, under the Provisional Government of Belgium,
• Starting in 1832 :
  • silver franc coins with the portrait of King Leopold I (5 silver francs, 2 1/2 silver francs, 2 silver francs, 1 silver franc, 1/2 silver franc, 1/4 silver franc, 20 centimes silver),
  • copper pennies with the Belgian lion and the national motto, in French, "l'union fait la force" (10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents and 1 penny).^[4]

Legacy

A street in the municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, where he owned a large property called "Campagne de M. Braemt" (Mr Braem's countryside), on which the street was partly drawn, bears his name.^[5]

Bibliography

• De Seyn, Dictionnaire biographique…., vol. I, sub verbo.
• L. Forrer, Biographical Dictionary of Medallists : Braemt, Joseph Pierre, t. I, London, Spink & Son Ltd, 1904, 691 p., p. 260–261.