Antique Bronze Gold-Plated Medal Signed L. Penin Miraculous Virgin Mary Saint Anthony of Padua 19th Century

A devotional medal with quiet charm and a precisely dated history. Crafted in gold-plated bronze, this double-sided piece pairs the Virgin Mary and Saint Anthony of Padua in fine, careful relief, signed by one of the great names of 19th-century Lyon religious medal engraving.

Type: Religious pendant medal, double-sided
Period: Mid-19th century, circa 1850–1868
Material: Gold-plated bronze
Dimensions: 25 mm diameter excluding bail / approximately 0.98 inch
Origin: France, Lyon
Condition: good overall condition, crisp relief, fully legible inscriptions, lovely period gilt patina

The obverse depicts the Virgin Mary standing, haloed, surrounded by the inscription "O Marie conçue sans péché priez pour nous" (O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us). The reverse shows Saint Anthony of Padua holding the Christ Child, with the inscription "S. Ant. de Padoue priez pour nous." The relief is precise, facial features finely detailed, and the lettering remains sharp despite the piece's age. The medal is signed "L. Penin" at the base of the reverse.

This signature points to Ludovic Penin (1830–1868), a Lyon engraver from a line of four generations of medallists active from 1830 to the present day. He was the only member of the family to sign his work with his first initial, which allows his medals to be precisely dated to the period 1850–1868. In 1864, the quality of his religious work earned him the title of "pontifical engraver," granted by brief of Pope Pius IX. This medal therefore belongs to his personal output, produced before the workshop became the Penin Poncet firm.

Worn as a pendant on a fine chain or added to a charm bracelet, this medal fits equally well around the neck or within a collection of antique religious medals.

It will appeal to collectors of French devotional medals, lovers of 19th-century Catholic art, and anyone seeking a piece of jewelry carrying real meaning and history.

An authentic piece, precisely attributable and dated, signed by a recognized pontifical engraver — it's rare to find such historical traceability paired with so intimate a devotional object.

This antique gilt bronze medal, signed L. Penin and dated to the mid-19th century, brings together the Miraculous Virgin and Saint Anthony of Padua in an authentic French devotional piece, ideal for collectors and lovers of antique religious jewelry.

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