Like sculpture, the medal has been adversely affected by the long disenchantment with the art of the nineteenth century and disappeared from the public view. However, far from being confined to codified formulas as pious medal or coins, these medals deliver an extraordinarily rich and diverse vision of society in the nineteenth century. They record the memory of all aspects of private and public life, small and great stories, birthdays, scientific inventions, and international politics: a kaleidoscope of history. Seven institutions that play a special role in the development, dissemination and preservation of these works (the Cabinet des médailles de la Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Monnaie de Paris, the Petit Palais, the Cabinet des monnaies et médailles de Marseille, the Palais des beaux-arts de Lille, the Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon and the Musée d'Orsay) today combine to spotlight masterpieces in their respective collections.