Watch List notes:

COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS, WORLD MEDALS, Italy, Pope Pius IX (1792-1846-1878), Mastai-Ferretti, The Proclamation of the Immaculate Conception, large circular Gilt-metal Plaquette, 1854, by Antoine Vechte (1800-1868), made in England by the electrotype process, for Messrs. Hunt & Roskell, the Virgin Mary stands nimbate, her hands crossed, around her angelic figures and cherubs, wide border, inset with four vignettes, bust of the Pope below, signed "A Vechte Ivt et fecit 1854", 158mm, registration mark stamped on lower edge, in red leather fitted case of issue with Hunt & Roskell's details on inner lid (cf Baldwin's Auction 81, 10 May 2013, lot 3455). A magnificent medal, richly gilt and virtually mint state, extremely rare.
Forrer (BDM), describes the medallion as "marvellously beautiful" and states that Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman (1802-1865) had noted that Messrs Hunt & Roskell had made an example in gold. In 1854, with the Bull Ineffabilis, Pius IX had proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception: "... We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful".

Estimate: £600-800