To commemorate the Congress held at Paris (1872–3) to regulate the adoption of the Metric System 1874

This silver medal was created by Jules-Clément Chaplain to commemorate the 1872-3 Congress in Paris, which sought to regulate the adoption of the metric system. The image shows a quartet of classical female figures, embodiments of global unity and progress, enthroned above symbols of industry. Inscribed in Latin is “A sacred compact of peoples.” The medal presents the metric system not merely as a practical tool, but as a foundation for international concord, a utopian vision characteristic of the late 19th century. France, where it was made, had long sought to position itself as a leader in science and enlightenment. Under the Third Republic, following the Franco-Prussian War, the metric system became a symbol of modernization and international cooperation, differentiating itself from its European neighbors. To fully understand this artifact, one might research the political climate of post-war France and the international exposition movement. This medal reminds us that even seemingly technical standards are embedded in cultural and institutional history.