Prix d´ instruction militaire, Graveur Eugène André Oudine

[Arminius]

Salut,

has someone more detailed information abot the issue date of this beatiful French medal:





France, deuxiéme - troisième république - XXème siècle (?), Prix d´ instruction militaire, Graveur Eugène André Oudine, ca. 1837-1882 AD.(?),
Médaille de bronze (51 mm / 59,42 g),
Obv.: REPUBLIQUE - FRANCAISE / OUDINÉ , type Cérès de Eugène-André Oudiné, tête de Cérès à gauche couronnée d'épis avec un bandeau inscrit CONCORDE ; au-dessous signé "OUDINÉ",
Rev.: PRIX / D´ INSTRUCTION / MILITAIRE / OFFERT / PAR LE MINISTRE / DE LA / GUERRE , en couronne.
.

Merci

[LordBest]

This medal should be able to be dated by whatever words or symbols are stamped into the edge, could you provide  picture of description? If a medal lacks any edge marks then it was struck prior to 1841, which is not applicable to this medal which would have to be post 1871.  I can say that the edge mark ought to be either a bee/abeille or cornucopia, the bee giving a date of 1871-1880 the cornucopia a date of 180-1950, effectively the entire duration of the Third Republic.
Oudine was active before 1831 (he won a prize for engraving in that year) but seems to have left the country at some point and returned in 1836 and worked for many decades. Prize medals engraved by him were still being struck, or at leat awarded, in the 20th century.
Usually these Ecole Millitaire medals are engraved with the recipients name, date and what he won it for in the blank space between the two dotted borders on the reverse. As this medal lacks a dedication it would seem it is technically unissued.
                                                                            LordBest.

[Arminius]

Here are two pictures of the only stamp on the edge. The letters BRONZE accompanied by a small symbol (or defect?) left.

But there are two additional marks on the obverse behind Ceres´neck: a 9 and a small rose.

 

[LordBest]

I'm fairly sure thats a cornucopia, which would date it post 1880. Given the colour of the patination I would say its a 19th century striking, but I could well be wrong.
                                                                     LordBest.
             

[Potator II]

It is definately a cornucopia

Potator