18-karat Gold Religious Medal – L. Penin, Lyon – Christ And The Virgin – 19th Century.

Superb 18K gold religious medal, signed L. Penin, Lyon, one of the most distinguished French medallists of the 19th century. Ludovic Penin (1830–1868), appointed Pontifical Engraver by Pope Pius IX in 1864, is celebrated for the exceptional quality of his religious medallic work.

This remarkable medal features a magnificent double-sided high relief: Christ wearing the Crown of Thorns on one side and the Virgin in profile on the other, both framed within an elegant Neo-Gothic design inspired by the rose windows and stained-glass architecture of medieval cathedrals.

Executed with exceptional engraving quality, this piece stands out for the refinement of its modelling, the serenity and delicacy of the faces, the remarkable depth of the reliefs, and the perfect balance of its composition. A masterfully crafted work that far surpasses the standard religious medals of its period.

• 18K gold (French eagle’s head hallmark)
• Signed: L. Penin, Lyon
• Diameter: 2.5 cm (0.98 in)
• Height including bail: 3.5 cm (1.38 in)
• Weight: 9.4 g

A rare and highly collectible devotional medal, distinguished both by its outstanding artistic execution and by the signature of one of Lyon’s foremost 19th-century master medallist.