Désiré-Albert Barre or Albert Désiré Barre

* 06-05-1818, Paris (FRA)
† 29-12-1878 (60), Paris (FRA)

Mark description (designer): "BARRE", "BAPPE"
Mark description (graveur général​): anchor

Biography

Désiré-Albert was born as a son of Jacques-Jean Barré and as a brother of Jean-Auguste Barré. As of 1838 he attended the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts (National School of Fine Arts, Paris (FRA)), studying painting under Paul Delaroche. After doing several notable exhibitions (like in the Salon of Paris) he was asked by his father to work at the Paris Mint in 1845. His father was the chief engraver (18th graveur général des monnaies) at the mint, who he succeeded in 1855. They worked closely together, making it sometimes hard to distinguish their works. After the succession he was responsible for the designs and production of many coins and stamps (like the first French stamp). He produced all the bronze, silver and gold coins of Napoleon III of France. After his death Désire-Albert was succeeded as chief engraver by his brother Jean-Auguste in 1879.

Occupations

1845-1855: employee at Monnaie de Paris, Paris (FRA)
1855-1878: Graveur Général des Monnaies (18) at Monnaie de Paris, Paris (FRA)

Notable works (numismatics - with mark only)

France

French Cochinchina

French Indochina

Greece

Honduras

Uruguay

Venezuela

Prizes and awards (numismatics)

No known awards

Sources

• Monnaies Françaises 1789-2011, 20th edition, S.A.R.L. F. Pastrone & Cie, Monaco (2011)
• © Photo : musée de La Poste, Paris / Tous droits réservés © Notice : musée de La Poste, Paris / La Poste
  
• Wikipedia