History

This Medal was originally awarded members of the Honour Guard at the tomb Victor Emmanuel II’s in the Pantheon. The Honour Guard was composed of veterans of the First Italian War of Independence 1848-1849.

It was issued again on January 23, 1910, to the Honour Guard at the Pantheon, which was now the tomb of both Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I. The Honour Guard in 1910 was composed of veterans from the Italian War of Independence and of any military campaigns up to 1870.

The Medal was issued for a final time to members of the Honour Guard on August 14, 1920. The Honour Guard in 1820 was composed of veterans of national campaigns (1915-18) and colonial campaigns (1911-20).

Thus there are three main versions of this Medal.

The medals issued first feature the portrait of Umberto I on the obverse medallion with a large or small head, may have the engraver mark “GIOV.GIANI,” or “S.J.,” and feature the obverse inscription “UMBERTO I RE D’ITALIA” and the reverse inscription “VETERANI 1848-49 GUARDIA D’ONORE ALLA TOMBA DEL RE VITTORIO EMANUELE II.”

The medals issued second feature the portrait of Victor Emmanuel III on the obverse medallion, may have the engraver mark “L.GIORGI,” and feature the obverse inscription “VITTORIO EMANUELE III RE D’ITALIA” and the reverse inscription “VETERANI 1848-70 GUARDI D’ONORE ALLE TOMBE DEL RE V. EMANUELE II.”

The medals issued third feature the portrait of Victor Emmanuel III on the obverse medallion, may have the engraver mark “121 MI 800,” or “FML,” and feature the obverse inscription “VITTORIO EMANUELE III RE D’ITALIA” and the reverse inscription “AI VETERANI E REDUCI GUARDIA D’ONORE ALLA TOMBE DEL RE VITTORIO EMANUELE II E UMBERTO I.”