Italy - Kingdom of: Al Valore Militare in Silver, circa First World War issue, obverse with Italian Regia Zecca Royal Mint mark and F.G. initials for the renowned Italian designer Giuseppe Ferraris,
unnamed, and indicative of a battlefield presentation award. Evidence of having been worn, on old ribbon, and generally a superb example of type.
Condition: Good Very Fine or better.
Originally an award of the Kingdom of Sardinia, it became an Italian decoration on the creation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, being also used by the Italian Social Republic between 1943 and 1945. It is a now awarded by the Republic of Italy.
The award began as the Order of Military Valour established by Victor Amadeus III in 1793. Falling into disuse during the Napoleonic era, it was revived on 1 April 1815 by Victor Emmanuel I. Emmanuel I repealed the institution a few months later, on 4 August 1815, replacing the medals for bravery with the Military Order of Savoy.
On 26 March 1833, King Charles Albert acknowledged that the requirements for the grant of the Military Order were too strict, and re-established medals for valour in gold and silver to reward selfless acts in war and in peace by the military.
The medal was awarded for the Crimean War, the reverse inscribed "Spedizione d'Oriente 1854-1856" outside the wreath. Awards of this medal in silver included to 450 officers and men of the allied British Royal Navy and Army.
In 1887 the medal in bronze was authorised by King Umberto I. Soldiers who had received honourable mentions (menzioni onorevoli) for bravery between 1848 and 1887 were granted the bronze medal, and from this date it was awarded to those whose acts of bravery did not justify the higher gold or silver levels.
During the First World War a total of 368 Gold, 38,614 Silver and 60,244 Bronze medals were awarded for individual acts of heroism. In 1916 Tsar Nicholas II of Russia was awarded the Medal of Military Valor in Gold, the only foreign head of state to receive this award.
