Rare Christian Pendant Medal By Ludovic Penin of Lyons Circa 1860

Very Rare Christian Pendant Medal By Ludovic Penin of Lyons, The Virgin Mary Queen Of The Rosary Circa 1855

This beautiful bronze medal was made by Ludovic Penin who was the second in the generation of the famous family of medallists from Lyon in France. He was the son of Marius and the great grandfather of Adolphe Penin.

Ludovic was born in 1830 and died in 1868 aged just 36. He worked as a young man in the family workshop but it was not until 1859 that he was allowed to sign his own work. It is for that reason that medals by him are so rare and command such high prices as he only produced them for 9 years until his sudden death. His work was so exquisite that he was granted the title of Pontifical Engraver in a letter from Pope Pius IX in 1864.

On the front is The Virgin Mary and the inscription reads 'Oh Mary. conceived without sin, pray for us"

On the reverse is Our Blessed Mother seated with Jesus and below the inscription reads "Queen of the most Holy rosary pray for us'

This is a large bronze medal at 3.2 centimetres in diameter.