French Mexican Intervention Campaign Medal, Emperor Maximiliano

Original period manufacture. I love these old medals, they represent one of the more ambitious expeditions undertaken by Napoleon III during his reign. Being an attempt by France to establish a European influenced court in Mexico by placing the younger brother of Franz-Joseph of Austria, the Emperor Maximillian on the throne. It ended in disaster for Maximillian and was an enormous expense for France. At any rate, these medals were awarded to the French soldiers and sailors who participated during this campaign. They are of silver and list the French victories on the reverse. The ribbon is an original from the era with an embroidered eagle rather than a printed one. The ribbon has begun to tear a bit and shows wear, but remains basically sound. The French involvement began in 1862 and ended in 1866 with nearly 40,000 soldiers taking part in the campaign. The French suffered the loss of nearly 7,000 men. For Emperor Maximilian it was tragic, he  was executed along with several of his generals by a firing squad.