ACADEMY of Medals and Inscriptions, called also The academy of belles lettres, was erected by Lewis XIV. for the study and explanation of ancient monuments, and to perpetuate the remembrance of great events, by medals, reliefs, inscriptions, &c. The plan of this academy was formed by Mr Colbert, and established in 1663. In its first institution it consisted only of four or five members; but in 1701, they were increased to forty, viz. ten honoraries, ten pensionaries, ten associates, and ten novices or eleven, under the direction of a president and vice-president, who are annually appointed by the king.
Their chief employment has been upon the medallic history of the reign of Lewis their founder. But the learned are indebted to this academy for many volumes of essays on other parts of history, published under the title of Memoirs, &c.