(1972 edge stamp). France. ORPHEUS. By Marie-Alexandre Coudray. Uniface, large bronze version. Bronze 115mm. Obv: Bust of Orpheus clutching a lyre. Catalogue G?n?rale Illustr? vol. 3 100/C, Maier 223, Classens 40. $150. ————– Marie-Alexandre Lucien Coudray was born in Paris on February 21 1864. He studied at the ?cole Nationale Sup?rieure des Beaux-Arts and was a student of Dumont, Thomas, Allouard and Ponscarme. In 1893 he won the Premier Grand Prix de Rome for medal engraving for Orph?e endort Cerb?re aux sons de sa lyre (Orpheus putting Cerebus to sleep by the sound of his lyre), In 1898 he won a first prize at the Salon and a silver medal at the Universal Exposition. Coudray?s best known work is his portrait of Orpheus, which was offered for sale by the Monnaie de Paris, at the Universal Exposition in 1900. 4,500 examples which struck to meet the demand. Coudray died in 1932.