Second Empire French campaign medal with replacement ribbon
Key Information:
• Country: France
• Era: Second French Empire (Napoleon III)
• Campaign: Italian Campaign of 1859
• Material: Silver
• Designer: BARRE
• Diameter (approx.): 31.30 mm
For the condition, please refer to the pictures; all dimensions are approximate.
Medal Design:
Obverse:
Laureate head of Emperor Napoleon III facing right, surrounded by the inscription “NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR”. The engraver’s signature BARRE appears below the portrait.
Reverse:
Laurel wreath enclosing the names of the principal battles of the Italian Campaign:
MONTEBELLO – PALESTRO – TURBIGO – MAGENTA – MARIGNAN – SOLFERINO, with the date 1859 at the bottom.
The medal is suspended from a replacement red-and-white striped ribbon, correct in pattern but not original to the medal.
Condition:
Very good original condition with natural age toning and light surface wear consistent with age.
Details remain sharp on both obverse and reverse.
Ribbon is a later replacement, showing light handling wear.
No repairs noted.
Please refer carefully to the photographs for full condition assessment.
Historical and Collectible Significance:
This medal was awarded to French soldiers who took part in the Italian Campaign of 1859, a key conflict of the Second Italian War of Independence. Under Emperor Napoleon III, French forces supported the Kingdom of Sardinia against Austria, leading to decisive battles such as Magenta and Solferino.
The campaign played a major role in the unification of Italy and marked one of the most significant military engagements of the Second French Empire. Medals from this campaign are historically important and highly collectible, particularly examples in silver with clear detail.
Summary:
Original French Medal of the Italian Campaign of 1859, issued under Napoleon III, silver, designed by BARRE. Complete with a correct-pattern replacement ribbon. A well-preserved and historically significant piece from the Second French Empire, suitable for any serious collection of 19th-century European or French military medals.
For the condition, please refer to the pictures.