Italy, Republic. A Medal For The Liberation Of Dalmatia

Bronze, obverse illustrating a standing helmeted Italian soldier, astride a map of the Adriatic with the soldier planting a standard in Dalmatia, a fasces at the left, the winged lion of St. Mark between the fasces and the soldier, a tablet in the lion's right paw inscribed "PAX TIBI MARCE EVANGELISTA MEUS" (Peace unto you, Mark, my evangelist), engraver marked "AFFER" (Costantino Affer, 1906-1987), reverse illustrating a winged Victory figure in flight, a raised sword in her right hand, a shield in her left hand, the crowned arms of Dalmatia below, the date "1941 Λ XIX" (April 19, 1941) to the left of the shield, inscribed "VINCERE" (To Conquer) above and "DALMAZIA REDENTA" (Dalmatia Liberated) below, 32 mm, extremely fine. Footnote: The medal was awarded to members of the Italian Second Army for participation in the Italian invasion of Dalmatia following the German invasion of Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941. The Italians occupied and subsequently annexed parts of Slovenia, Croatia and the Dalmatian coast. The reference to St. Mark is from the legend that while visiting Venice, an angel appeared to him saying "Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus. Hic requiescet corpus tuum" (Peace unto you Mark, my evangelist. Here your body shall rest). The winged Lion of St. Mark, holding a tablet engraved with the angel’s words appears widely in Venice, of which he is patron saint, which for centuries exercised great power in the Adriatic and especially Dalmatia.