Commemorative Medal of the March on Rome - Il Duce

March on Rome Commemorative Medal – historical and technical background

The March on Rome commemorative medal belongs to the political medallic output of early Fascist Italy, marking the 1922 event that led to the rise of Benito Mussolini. The obverse bears Mussolini’s portrait with the contemporary legend “Il Duce,” a portrait type widely adopted in official medallic iconography of the 1920s; the reverse features the fascesaccompanied by the inscription “Marcia su Roma,” a standardized commemorative formula of the period. Original production is attributed to the Florentine firm Picchiani e Barlacchi, known for artistic and industrial medal striking. From a technical standpoint, these pieces were struck medals in base metal, with medium-to-high relief modeling consistent with official portrait standards; module and finish could vary by issue. The object exemplifies Italian political medallistics of the early interwar years, reflecting formalized symbolism and commemorative practice.