A single copy of most of the medals was struck in gold for Napoleon's personal collection.
The most definitive catalog of Napoleonic medals was created by a collector named Bramsen in three volumes published between 1904 and 1913.
The most common type, known as the St. Helena Medal, was issued to French grognards who rallied to Napoleon's cause during the Hundred Days.
It is a complete series of the medals struck in France, Italy, Great Britain and Germany, from the commencement of the French Republic in 1804 to the restoration in 1815.
Restrikes can often be identified by a punch mark applied to the edge of the medal, which is usually denoted by the word 'BRONZE'.