1552 French Medal? Identification help?

norwegianguy

I think this coin may be made of lead, but I'm really not sure...

Diameter 54 mm (2.1 Inches)
Weight about 26 grams.

Obverse text: HENRICVS II GALLIARVM REX INVIGTISS PP
Reverse text: RESTITVTA REP SENENSI LIBERATIS O*SID MEDIOMAT PARMA MIRAND SANDAMI ET RECEPTO HADINIO ORBIS CONSENSV 1552

I got this in a lot of medals I bought in a danish auction.

EDITED: I found a link to this medal at coinarchives. The text mentions that there is another medal from the same date. Is this "the other medal"?

ormandh

Man, I don't know. Would they make medals out of lead in 1552? I guess they could have, but I would have expected bronze or silver. I think it is cool!!

Some of the medal experts will chime in, I am sure of it. -Dan

norwegianguy

It's not bronze and it sure doesn't look like silver.

It could possibly be tin, even though I think it is a bit dark and heavy for being tin.

Iosephus

I don't really know anything about French medals, but I'll throw in my two cents regarding medals of the Renaissance period. Back to basically the beginning of the creation of the medal in this form by Pisanello in the mid-15th century, lead aftercasts would often be made of medals so that those who could not afford a medal in the "courtly" metal of bronze or silver could have an example for study. The second item worth mentioning is that such aftercasts (and aftercasts of aftercasts) have been made throughout the years, so it is very difficult to tell when a piece might actually have been made. I would assume yours is one of such an aftercast, as the details on your seem very mushy, though I have no images of this medal to make comparisons with.