Identify The History On This Medal? It Is A Recast Won Off Auction Recently

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newtraffic2 Valued Member United States 91 Posts	Posted 11/30/2025 12:25 am Acquired as: *"Parma. Ranuccio II Farnese (1630-1694) cast bronze "Acquisition of Bardi and Compiano" Medal"* I can mention: This extraordinary cast bronze medal from Parma celebrates the rule of Ranuccio II Farnese (1630-1694), one of Italy's most powerful ducal figures during the 17th century. Struck to commemorate the acquisition of Bardi and Compiano, this historic piece reflects the expansion and consolidation of Farnese authority across northern Italy. Each detail in the medal's relief artistry symbolizes Parma's glory, offering collectors a tangible connection to the political and cultural ambitions of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods. The obverse typically features a detailed portrait of Ranuccio II Farnese rendered in high relief, illustrating the duke's dignified demeanor and refined court aesthetics. His image stands as a testament to the Farnese dynasty's prominence, whose influence stretched beyond Parma to shape Italian politics and art. The craftsmanship and casting technique used in this medal reveal both the skill of 17th-century artisans and the enduring quality of Italian bronze work. On the reverse, the design commemorates the acquisition of the territories of Bardi and Compiano—two strategically vital fortresses nestled in the Apennine region. Their annexation symbolized Parma's territorial strength and political stability under Farnese rule. The thematic design captures this moment of triumph, making the medal not just a piece of art but a vivid historical document in metal form. Do we know anything else about this? Edited by newtraffic2 11/30/2025 12:26 am Report this Post to the Staff

colonialjohn Pillar of the Community United States 1757 Posts	Posted 12/01/2025 4:31 pm This medal is generally attributed to Cesare Fiori and dated to around 1682, marking Ranuccio II Farnese's acquisition of the fiefs of Bardi and Compiano. Typical specifications for known casts are impressively large—around 110-111 mm in diameter—with recorded weights ranging from roughly 291 g to 355 g. The obverse presents an armored bust of Ranuccio II to the right, often with Fiori's name impressed on the shoulder, while the reverse offers an aerial view of the Taro Valley highlighting Bardi and Compiano; catalog references include Börner DM 1764 and Rizzini 890. The piece sits squarely within Farnese ducal propaganda, emphasizing territorial consolidation under Ranuccio II (reigned 1646-1694). Its monumental scale and high relief suggest courtly presentation rather than circulation, aligning with the dynasty's broader use of medals to project authority and commemorate strategic gains in the Apennines. Auction and catalog records consistently frame it as a cast bronze commemorative of the acquisition event, reinforcing its role as a political statement in metal Report this Post to the Staff
newtraffic2 Valued Member United States 91 Posts	Posted 12/01/2025 7:18 pm Thanks! when did the cast come out? is it still valuable? Report this Post to the Staff
colonialjohn Pillar of the Community United States 1757 Posts	Posted 12/01/2025 9:26 pm The Farnese medal commemorating Ranuccio II's acquisition of Bardi and Compiano is a monumental bronze cast produced in Parma around 1682, attributed to Cesare Fiori. Its oversized format—over 110 mm in diameter and weighing roughly 300 g—was designed for presentation rather than circulation, serving as a courtly object of prestige. The obverse features the armored bust of Ranuccio II, while the reverse depicts an aerial view of the Taro Valley, visually asserting ducal control over the newly acquired fiefs. On the market today, surviving examples are relatively scarce and command strong collector interest. Auction records and catalog listings place typical values in the range of €1,000-€2,500, with condition, patina, and provenance driving price variation. Well-preserved casts with crisp detail and original surfaces tend to achieve the higher end of this spectrum, while worn or heavily patinated pieces may sell closer to the lower range. As a piece of dynastic propaganda in medallic art, it remains both historically significant and commercially desirable. Report this Post to the Staff
jecz79 Pillar of the Community Portugal 655 Posts	Posted 12/06/2025 8:40 pm The history of original cast medals is well known. There are good old books about the subject. Check Les medailleurs italiens des quinzième et seizième siècles, by Armand. The difficulty for collectors interested in the originals is recasts. There is no way to tell for sure when all recasts were made. Recognizing originals from some recasts is the domain of a few experts. I think even they are wrong sometimes. It is also a lesser problem with restrikes of machine struck medals. But there is more information about those. Report this Post to the Staff
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